Page 2 - Avro Lancaster ED888

AVRO LANCASTER MKIII

Serial No: ED 888

Squadron code:
103 Squadron: PM M - Mother

576 Squadron: UL V - Victor2 / M - Mike2

Fourth batch of 620 airframes (being the final part of Contract No: B69247 and works order no:
7671) built by A.V. Roe & Company Ltd at Newton Heath, Manchester.

129 Mk 1’s built with the remainder Mark 111’s.
(ED 888 being a Mark 111). Deliveries commenced November 1942 and order completed by June
1943.
Average rate of airframe production, approximately 25 airframes per week.

ED 888 was delivered to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds in early April 1943 and codenamed
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PM – M - Mother. The Lancasters first operation was on the night of 4 /5 May 1943 to Dortmund,
the pilot that night was Warrant Officer, later Flight Lieutenant N. R. Ross DSO, DFC, A E.
Completing 55 operations with 103 Squadron the Lancaster was then transferred over to newly
formed 576 Squadron after the 27 November 1943.
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The new Squadrons first Commanding Officer was Wing Commander G. T. B. Clayton DFC. The
Squadron being created from 13 experienced crew’s together with 9 Avro Lancasters and their
ground crew’s transferred from ‘C’ Flight of 103 Squadron, both Squadrons being based at Elsham
Wolds. These were to make up the nucleus of 576 Squadron forming ‘B’ Flight under the
command of Squadron Leader M. R. Attwater. ‘A’ Flight, under the command of Squadron Leader
Dilworth, was made up of 4 experienced crew’s from 101 (Special Duties) Squadron at Ludford
Magna with additional new crew’s coming straight from No. 1 Groups Heavy
Conversion Training Units.
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The aircrafts 55 operation with 103 Squadron was on the night of 26 /27 November 1943, the
target being the German Capital, Berlin. The Lancaster was then transferred over
to 576 Squadron.
ED 888 was given a new 576 Squadron code, UL V – Victor2 and the airframe continued with this
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code until its 72 operation to Essen on the night of 26 /27 March 1943, when it was given the
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new Squadron code M – Mike2.
(Aircraft in a Squadron that shared the same airfield with a second Squadron were given the (2)
(squared) letter to enable the watch office personnel to identify accurately each aircraft.)

At this point in its service ED 888 underwent a major servicing period when all ED 888’s Merlin’s
were replaced and the airframe also underwent an upgrading of modifications.

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The Lancaster was back on operations on the night of 24 /25 April 1944 to Karlsruhe, the
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Lancasters 73 operation.