WW2 Colour Photos Of Lancaster Bombers

16/5/2015

Via a number of forums (for example, colour photographs of WW2 aircraft) and sites I have collated a number of colour photographs from the Second World War showing Lancasters in flight, being constructed and serviced and on various airfields.

Lancaster ED932 101 Squadron

Lancaster bombing up

King George VI Lancaster inspection

The rear gunner of Avro Lancaster R5740 - KM-O.

Lancaster R5666 KM-F gets its screen cleaned and guns maintained.

Lancaster fuselages at Woodford

15 Comments

roy etherton

22/5/2017 11:03:35 pm

I am putting together a DVD to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 101 squadron and I WAS WONDERING IF I MAY USE SOME OF YOUR VERY EVOCATIVE PHOTOGRPHS PLEASE. I WILL OF COURSE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE.U
My UNCLE WAS A TAIL GUNNER ON 101 AND WAS SHOT DOWN 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE wAR.

WITH WARMERST REGARDS

ROY

Craig Smith

22/5/2017 11:13:20 pm

Yes - that's fine.

stephen smith

29/11/2019 07:48:51 am

These are most valuable photographs and appear to re-create the atmosphere and attitutes of the period. Thank you so much for publishing them. I am producing a lancaster model for the family of a tail gunner and was desperately seeking colour images to assess the real appearance of the weathered camouflage from a distance. This lancaster I'm portraying is LM269 of 630 sqdn, one of 64 lost by the unit. Thank you again and my best wishes.

Peter Lane

30/5/2020 11:03:47 am

Thank you so very much for this wonderful site. I am painting a 44 sqn aircraft KM-B flying under the Menai Bridge Anglesey. These images are invaluable in re creating authentic tones.
I am extremely grateful. Best Regards

Paul

12/8/2020 11:48:35 pm

My cousin was pilot of ED-563 and ED-553
Love to find some photography

Rodney Willis Pettifer

8/8/2021 05:25:06 pm

On the third and fifth photograph the person cleaning the windows on top of the aircraft is my father, Willis Pettifer, he always said he was a window cleaner on Lancaster Bombers, he said he used "Brasso" on the perspex. I think he was trained as an Air Frame Fitter, based at Ludford Magna. I have a copy of the third phot in black and white.

Berwyn Painters link

1/9/2022 04:48:25 pm

Hi great reeading your post

Colin Cottis

12/2/2023 12:34:49 pm

Hi, im just enquiring if anyone knows how the lancaster was painted as in by brush or spray.

Many thanks
Colin Cottis

Steve Kerry

31/7/2023 05:29:58 pm

Just Jane was sprayed for her restoration:
https://www.withamgroup.co.uk/blog/witham-paint-helps-restore-just-jane-lancaster-bomber/

I can't imagine anyone brush painting a fleet of Lancaster bombers, it would have taken hundreds of hours at a time where there were far more pressing matters to deal with.

James M

21/11/2025 07:52:43 am

Invasion stripes were painted on. With the nearest broom! They were accordingly somewhat scruffy affairs.

Tom P

24/8/2024 05:10:24 pm

Good afternoon. I am putting together a display on a Lancaster Bomber lost beyond the sea in Felixstowe and would very much like to use the top image on this page for the purposes. Please let me know if this is okay?

bruce link

3/7/2025 05:52:34 pm

Hi I am a South African whose late mother was in London during the Blitz.Her family emmigrated here to Cape Town in 1948. Having grown up near an airfield , being a conscript during the 80's and having a deep passion for aircraft I am presently building a Lancaster model and really appreciate the pics .
Thanking you. Please can u tell me where I can see a restored bomber ? Would it be at Duxford Museum ?
Thanks
Bruce

Andy Thomson link

21/11/2025 04:14:08 am

In Canada: Hamilton - still flying - at the Canadian Warplane Museum, plus seven others in various states of restoration

Keiran

20/12/2025 07:58:00 am

Hi. I've not had much luck in researching information about EM-X ME667 apart from in being a Lancaster I and was shot down in October 44. The pilot was my wife's cousin and I'm building a 1/72 scale model and wanted to replicate it (before its demise). Any good suggestions on quality places to find more info? I'm trying to confirm markings and colour scheme mainly but also whether the windows were painted over on this particular aircraft.
Thanks in advance.

Missslredfern link

30/1/2026 02:29:57 pm

I am seeking contact with any living members or relatives of deceased bomber command 100c squadron of which my dads older brother sgt ronald redfern was killed on 26th november 1943 he was rear gunner with prangley crew shot down at havel bie river pots dam near berlin as his log book is now sadly lost his mum kept it safe for many many years but she died now my dads died too and theres no trace of the log book anywhere as he got demebtiahedoesnt remember where he put it but we cant find it at all and if he couldnt tell us it remainslost i am writing to bomber command association today to verify operation codes ron may have recorded in the log book but its been that long since i viewed the book itself possibly aged 13 or 14 and i didnt understand at all what he had written in the book itself anyway.

WW2 Colour Photos Of Lancaster Bombers

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