The following are operators of the Avro Lancaster:
Military operators
Argentina Argentine Air Force From May 1948 to August 1949 the Argentine Air Force received 15 Lancasters (registered B-031 to B-045) previously operated by RAF.Marino, Celleto and Mosquera Air Enthusiast September/October 2001, pp. 65, 70.
Australia Royal Australian Air Force No. 460 Squadron RAAF No. 463 Squadron RAAF No. 467 Squadron RAAF
Canada Royal Canadian Air Force No. 6 Group RCAF (Wartime to 1945) 405 SquadronLyzun 2000, p. 21. 408 Squadron 419 Squadron 420 Squadron 424 Squadron 425 Squadron 426 Squadron 427 Squadron 428 Squadron 429 Squadron 431 Squadron 432 Squadron 433 Squadron 434 Squadron 10 Group/Maritime Air Command(Post 1947) 103 Rescue Unit 2 Maritime (M) Operational Training Unit 404 Maritime Reconnaissance/Patrol Squadron 405 Maritime Reconnaissance/Patrol Squadron 407 Maritime Reconnaissance/Patrol Squadron CFB Rockcliffe(Postwar) 408 Aerial Photography/Arctic Reconnaissance Squadron 413 Aerial Photography Squadron
Egypt Royal Egyptian Air Force
France Aeronavale – 54 transferred from the Royal Australian Air Force beginning in 1952 Escadrille 5S Escadrille 9S Escadrille 10S Escadrille 55S Escadrille 56S
Poland Polish Air Forces on exile in Great Britain No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron "Ziemi Mazowieckiej"
Soviet Union Soviet Naval Aviation Soviets were able to repair two of six Avro Lancasters which made forced landings near Yagodnik airfield, near Arkhangelsk during attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz. Both ex-617 Squadron Avro Lancasters were operated briefly as transports and long range reconnaissance aircraft before being retired due to lack of spare parts.Kotelnokov 2007, pp.24–27.
Sweden Swedish Air Force Försökscentralen (Swedish Test Establishment) at Malmen near Linköping received one Lancaster I (ex-RAF RA805) designated Tp 80 and the SwAF/n 80001. Aircraft was modified by Avro company for jet engine testbed duties and delivered from UK in May 1951. The only Swedish Lancaster crashed in 1956.Tp 80 – Avro Lancaster B Mk.1 (1951–1956) article
United Kingdom Royal Air ForceMason 1994, p. 348.Halley 1980, p. 353. No. 7 Squadron RAF No. 9 Squadron RAF No. 12 Squadron RAF No. 15 Squadron RAF No. 18 Squadron RAF No. 20 Squadron RAF No. 35 Squadron RAF No. 37 Squadron RAF No. 38 Squadron RAF No. 40 Squadron RAF No. 44 Squadron RAF No. 49 Squadron RAF No. 50 Squadron RAF No. 57 Squadron RAF No. 61 Squadron RAF No. 70 Squadron RAF No. 75 Squadron RAF No. 82 Squadron RAF No. 83 Squadron RAF No. 90 Squadron RAF No. 97 Squadron RAF No. 100 Squadron RAF No. 101 Squadron RAF No. 103 Squadron RAF No. 104 Squadron RAF No. 106 Squadron RAF No. 109 Squadron RAF No. 115 Squadron RAF No. 120 Squadron RAF No. 138 Squadron RAF No. 148 Squadron RAF No. 149 Squadron RAF No. 150 Squadron RAF No. 153 Squadron RAF No. 156 Squadron RAF No. 160 Squadron RAF No. 166 Squadron RAF No. 170 Squadron RAF No. 178 Squadron RAF No. 179 Squadron RAF No. 186 Squadron RAF No. 189 Squadron RAF No. 195 Squadron RAF No. 203 Squadron RAF No. 207 Squadron RAF No. 210 Squadron RAF No. 214 Squadron RAF No. 218 Squadron RAF No. 224 Squadron RAF No. 227 Squadron RAF No. 231 Squadron RAF No. 279 Squadron RAF No. 514 Squadron RAF No. 541 Squadron RAF No. 550 Squadron RAF No. 576 Squadron RAF No. 582 Squadron RAF No. 617 Squadron RAF No. 619 Squadron RAF No. 621 Squadron RAF No. 622 Squadron RAF No. 625 Squadron RAF No. 626 Squadron RAF No. 630 Squadron RAF No. 635 Squadron RAF No. 683 Squadron RAF No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1668 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1678 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School RAF No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School RAF No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School RAF No. 6 Lancaster Finishing School RAF No. 6 Operational Training Unit RAF No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit RAF No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
Fleet Air Arm 780 Naval Air SquadronThe Avro Lancaster in Royal Navy service article at Royal Navy Research Archive website
Civil operators
Argentina Flota Aérea Mercante ArgentinaEntries for year 1947 at the Plane Crash Info website.
Canada Spartan Air Services Trans-Canada Air LinesAirline/Operator "Tr – Tz" entry at the Plane Crash Info website. World Wide Airways
United Kingdom British European Airways British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) British South American Airways Flight Refuelling Limited Skyways Limited
See also
Avro Lancaster
Notes
References
Chant, Christopher. Lancaster: The History of Britain's Most Famous World War II Bomber. Bath, UK: Parragon, 2003. . Cotter, Jarrod. Living Lancasters: Keeping the Legend Alive. Thrupp, Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2005. . Franks, Richard A. The Avro Lancaster, Manchester and Lincoln: A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller. London: SAM Publications, 2000. . Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK:Air Britain (Historians), 1980. . Holmes, Harry. Avro Lancaster (Combat Legend series). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2002. . Jackson, A.J. Avro Aircraft since 1908, 2nd edition. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. . Jacobs, Peter. The Lancaster Story. London: Arms & Armour Press, 1996. . Lyzun, Jum. "From Warhorse to Workhorse: Lancaster Mk.10 Variants in Canada". Air Enthusiast. No. 86, March/April 2000, pp. 16–26. Kotelnikov, Vladimir. "From Roundels to Red Stars". Aeroplane, January 2007, Vol 35 No. 1. pp. 24–27. Kulikov, Viktor P. British Aircraft in Russia. Air Power History, Vol. 51, 2004. Lake, Jon. Lancaster Squadrons 1942–43. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. . Lake, Jon. Lancaster Squadrons 1944–45. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. . Mackay, R.S.G. Lancaster in action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1982. . Marino, Atilio; Celleto, Vladimiro and Javier Mosquera. "Argentina's 'Heavies': Avro Lancaster, Lincoln and Lancastrian in Military Service: Part One". Air Enthusiast, No. 95, September/October 2001. pp. 64–70. Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London:Putnam, 1994. . Moyes, Philip J.R. Avro Lancaster I & II. Kidlington, Oxford, UK: Vintage Aviation Publications Ltd., 1979. . Page, Bette. Mynarski's Lanc: The Story of Two Famous Canadian Lancaster Bombers KB726 & FM213. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press, 1989. . Postlethwaite, Mark. Lancaster Squadrons in Focus. Walton on Thames. Surrey, UK: Red Kite, 2001. . Robertson, Bruce. Lancaster – The Story of a Famous Bomber. Watford, Hertfordshire, UK: Argus Books Ltd., 1964 (5th impression 1977). . Sweetman, Bill. Avro Lancaster. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. .