Favorite British Bomber

Theres a Vulcan at castle air museum on loan from the Brits theres a pix on there web site The local hobby shop guy told me that during the Falkans War they had to rob an engine off of it. BTW Castle air museum is in central Calif Thers a great outdoors display

For those who like the Stirling, or B-17's in RAF service for that matter, get a copy of Murray Peden's book "A Thousand Shall Fall". Good photos too.
Enjoy!
Bruce

Lanc for WWII and the Vulcan for the "Cold War".

I also love the Wellington and Trumpeter has it listed to come out this year in 1/48.

I love the Short Stirling! It looks beastly on the ground with the tall landing gear. I do agree that by clipping the span the Stirling was crippled. But since they clipped they put that huge gear on it to give a greater angle of attack and a shorter takeoff run.

I also like the Lancaster Mk II with the Bristol Hercules radial engines... just for the fact its got radials.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jamesrgorey I like Short-Stirling with its six bombbay doors in wings a long one in the fuselage p;us its wild lanky landing gear a big airplane for those days

Shorts actually designed the Stirling to be even bigger (in span) but the British Ministry of Aircraft Production made them chop the wings to fit the (then) standard 99' hangar door width. In the opinion of many who flew them, they crippled a queen.
Bruce

I would put the Wellington at the top of my list, with the Mosi, Lanc (Dam Version) & Beau a close second.

I heard a rumour ages ago that Trumpy was going to release a 1/48 Wellington - does anybody know anything else about this whisper?

I like Short-Stirling with its six bombbay doors in wings a long one in the fuselage p;us its wild lanky landing gear a big airplane for those days

My personal soft spot goes to the Beaufort, especially the Aussie ones which had more powerful engines. Have a bit of a liking for the Hercules engined Mk 2 Lanc. Apparently they were thought better aircraft by their crews than the Merlin engined marks.
As for modern stuff, it was criminal what happened to the TSR2. Fabulous aircraft

im also torn between the Mosquito and the Beufighter
for Jet The Vulcan

For the war years, I've got a toss up between the Lanc and the Mosquito

Post war, another toss up, Canberra and Vulcan

Hey All!!!

With out a doubt in my mind , my vote definetely goes to th Lancaster. I first saw one in flight when I as 6 years old, and I've been in a never ending love affair ever since. the shape was unmistakeable, not so many bulgs or bumps like the Yank's B-17. My Grandpa flew lancasters in the war, and was awarded the Distinguished flying medal, several mentions in dispates, and whenever I'm down I keep an eye on his service record with 9 Sqn to motivate myself.

I have a keen interest in the "Wimpy" as well. My great uncle was a tail gunner on one during the disatrous invasion of Dieppe. He was shot down but bailed out and became a POW for 3 years.

Lancaster_lover

I agree with bob - Vickers Wellington - it looks great, and when I think "bomber" I always thing about Wellington ! Regards !

I would have to agree with the lanc being best if only from a historical standpoint, that being said for looks Beaufighter (Case closed!) the Hampden nice looking but some what of a flop.

And the best looking bomber of all (even know it didnt see production) the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-4 Woomera, what a plane!

Err does that count being an Australian design????

Who cares? I dont!

Always the Halifax, for no other reason than that I just like the look. Either the Merlin or Hercules powered, I like them both.

For me, the Mosquito. It did it all; recon., air-ground/air-sea attack, bombing. Besides, there aren't too many others with the graceful lines and speed of the Mosquito! Gotta love those twin Merlins! :)

I always loved the Landcasters.... Especially the Dam Busters

My father was in the RAF in the early 50's. He once saw a Canberra bounce its way down the runway on a very bad landing. I remember him telling me this when I was very young. Since then I have taken a liking to the Canberra, may not have been as glamorous as the Vulcan but you can't argue with a plane that was in frontline service for 40 years. That's my choice. For props I'm with Salbando the Beaufighter was just a low level monster. JOHN

Beaufighter. I just love the way it looks and hells bells low level must have been a great sight. I must admit that I was torn between that and the Mosquito.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Lancaster my fav definately,but the Mosquito is way up there.
Jeff

Well here is my 2/- worth.
Where do you start? DH4? from WW1 or may be the HP100/400s?
Inter wars the Virginia or the Fighter/Bombers that patroled the rather more inaccessable parts of India? When the pilots carried Goolie Chits?
Or the Hampden, Wellington or Blenhiem that carried the load in the begining of WW2?
Even the TSR1 might get a gurnsey. It was the direct cause of the attack on Pearl Harbour!
During the latterdays of the second world war the Lancaster reigned supriem as the greatest heavy of all time! Stick that up your B17s (You can take a Flying Fortresss to 40 thousand feet. But it only drops a teeny weeeny bomb! Singing where oh where shall we drop it. Cause we've only got a teeny weeny bomb!).
while the Mossie was the best alrounder.
In the Pacific the honour would go to the Beaufort/Beaufighter, although if the Woomera had gone into production that may have been a different story.
Post war the Lincoln, the three Vs, Canberra and the Might Have Been TSR2 all make great claims.
However having said all this I would give my final vote for the.......Lancaster! Versitile,adaptableand the basic airfraim lived on in many other aircraft......Lancastrian, York, Lincoln,Long and short nose, and the Shackelton.
Now having set Anglo/US relationships back about 50 years I will take my soap box and get the washing in!
Dai

I am biased towards the Halifax VII because that is what my dad flew. Pilots who flew the later Halifax marks had only good things to say about them.

Bias aside, the Mossie is hard to beat.
Bruce

my faves are the Vulcan, the sight of five of them doing a stream takeoff will always stay in my memory (so will the noise - i was stood at the side of the runway about 50 feet away from the wingtips halfway own the takeoff run doing FOD patrol ). TSR2 (for what might have been) and the Canberra (my grandad used to make them and i have worked on two of them that came down the line where he worked) BTW he also worked on the TSR2. for WW2 it has to be the Lanc. Greg

Canberra and Vulcan get joint first
Valliant and Victor get joint second
TSR2 third

With props it's the Halifax, jet is the Vulcan. I do like all the other WW2 kites though but am not up to speed on their post war productions.

I like the looks of the Hampden, even though it was not a very good bomber.

Dont want to disappoint you Lanc people in here but for WW2 i would have to go with the Mosquito. Now for the modern it would without a doubt have to be the Vulcan.

They were all great .
Victor, Vulcan, TSR2, Canberra, Bucc, Tornado, Shackleton, Mosquito, Halifax, Stirling and Wellington.
The Mosquito is the top of my list but I still remember the high rate of climb Vulcan take off. Your chest was still vibrating long after it had gone from sight - vertically!

I'm with DJ- the Vulcan is my favorite British bomber.

But if you're talking WWII, I like the Lancaster.