Dates

Event

1945

Constructed as a Lancaster B.I.
Built for the intended use by the British Tiger Force in the Far East.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Air Force with s/n PA474.

With the end of the war with Japan the aircraft was not needed and PA474 entered storage.

Converted to a Lancaster PR.1.
The gun turrets were removed.

Transferred to 82 Squadron, East and South Africa.
Used by 82 for photographic reconnaissance duties.

From 26 May 1952 to 1954

Loaned to Flight Refuelling Ltd, Tarrant Rushton.
On return from squadron service PA474 was loaned to Flight Refuelling Limited to be used as a pilotless drone, however Flight Refueling used an Avro Lincoln instead and PA474 was returned.

There was a planned converstion to an unmanned drone but was instead stored.

From 7 March 1954 to 1964

Transferred to College of Aeronautics/Vickers Royal Aircraft Establishment, Cranfield.

Transferred to Royal College of Aeronautics.
Used for trials on the Handley Page laminar flow wing with the test wings mounted vertically above the rear fuselage.

1964

To Air Historical Branch.
Came under control of the AHB for potential display in the proposed RAF Museum.

While with the AHB was used in the filming of Operation Crossbow.

While with the AHB was used in the filming of The Guns of Navarone.

Transferred to 44 Squadron, RAF Waddington.

22 April 1964

Ferry flight.
Delivered from Cranfield to RAF Wroughton.

25 September 1964

Assigned to RAF Henlow for storage.

18 August 1965

Transferred to RAF Waddington.
Sent to Waddington for full restoration.

Restored as a Lancaster B.I.
Restored back to wartime standard including fitting back the front and rear turrets.

7 November 1967

Markings Applied: PA474, KM B
Finished in RAF markings. Marked to represent a Lancaster of 44 Squadron in which Squadron Leader J.D. Nettleton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in leading the low-level daylight raid on the U-boat engine factory at Augsberg in April 1942.

14 October 1972

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Lancaster B.1 of 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire on display at the 1972 RAF Mildenhall Air Fete.

From 20 November 1973 to 2020

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

1973

To The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Coltishall, Norwich, Lincolnshire/Lincs, England.
View the Location Dossier

17 August 1974

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Lancaster B.1 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on display at the Royal Air Force Association Airshow at Woodford.

1975

A mid-upper turret was found in Argentina and installed.

Circa 1975

Photographer: Unknown

Circa 1975

Photographer: Peter M. Law
Notes: 1970s photo at Greenham Common

1976

To The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, Lincolnshire/Lincs, England.
View the Location Dossier

Circa 1976

Photographer: Ken Videan
Notes: At Greenham Common.

21 July 1979

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster was on display at the 1979 RAF Coningsby Airshow.

Circa 1980

Markings Applied: AJ G
In the markings of a 617 Sqn aircraft flown by Guy Gibson on the Dam Busters Raid 1943.

10 May 1981

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at RAF Innsworth (Staverton) Airshow

26 July 1981

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at a Shuttleworth Flying Day

By 9 June 1984

Markings Applied: City of Lincoln, SR D

9 June 1984

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at RAF Mildenhall Air fete 84

1985

Photographer: Chris Redford
Notes: Avro Lancaster B.1 PA747 SR-D, Duxford 1985

23 May 1987

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Lancaster B.1 of the Royal Air Forces Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in action at the 1987 RAF Mildenhall Air Fete.

1989

Photographer: Chris Redford
Notes: Avro Lancaster B.1 PA474 PM-M2, Mildenhall 1989

29 July 1989

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at RNAS Yeovilton Airshow

1990

Photographer: Chris Redford
Notes: Avro Lancaster B.1 PA474 PM-M2, Mildenhall 1990

By 1994

Markings Applied: WS J

1994

Photographer: Chris Redford
Notes: Avro Lancaster B.1 PA474 WS-J, North Weald 1994

1994

Photographer: Chris Redford
Notes: Avro Lancaster B.1 PA474 WS-J, North Weald 1994

By 24 July 1994

Markings Applied: PM M

24 July 1994

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at RAF Fairford.

24 July 1994

Photographer: Unknown
Notes: Photographed at RAF Fairford.

2000

Markings Applied: MICKEY THE MOOCHER, City of Lincoln, RM Q, EE176
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster appears in a new colour scheme after each major overhaul. In 2000 it carried the markings of 61 Squadron.

By 17 July 2002

Markings Applied: MICKEY THE MOOCHER, City of Lincoln, QR M

17 July 2002

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at RNAS Culdrose Airshow

20 July 2002

Photographer: robert roggeman
Notes: EGVA.BBMF.

20 July 2002

Photographer: robert roggeman
Notes: EGVA.BBMF.

20 July 2002

Photographer: robert roggeman
Notes: EGVA.BBMF.

By 2003

Markings Applied: WS J

By 2003

Photographer: Mikael Olrog

19 July 2003

Photographer: Ken Videan
Notes: In the 100 Years of Flight enclave at RIAT Fairford.

By 13 September 2003

Markings Applied: DR M

13 September 2003

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster attended the 2003 RAF Leuchars Airshow.

By 4 May 2008

Markings Applied: Phantom of the Ruhr, BQ B, HW R
Marked to depict a Lancaster that flew 121 sorties, a so called ton-up Lancaster. She displays the markings of bombs for operations over Germany, ice-cream cones for operations over Italy, and poppies for when she has released poppies during exhibition flights.

4 May 2008

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: One of the only two surviving airworthy Avro Lancaster Bombers in the world, does a fly past over Peterborough Sibson airfield on return from a Battle of Britain display

20 July 2008

Photographer: Ken Videan
Notes: On display at Farnborough International 2008.

23 July 2010

Photographer: Ken Videan
Notes: At the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show.Avro meets Avro.

19 August 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At the 2012 Sywell Airshow in the UK

19 August 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At the 2012 Sywell Airshow in the UK

19 August 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At the 2012 Sywell Airshow in the UK

September 2012

Markings Applied: Thumper, KC A, DV385
Marked Lancaster Mk III of 617 Squadron in 1944 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid by 617 Squadron in May 1943.

5 May 2013

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: As KC-A Thumper at Abingdon Air Show 2013

21 July 2013

Photographer: Paul Thallon
Notes: 2013 photo at Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford UK - of RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight- consisting of Lancaster PA474, Spitfire LF.16E TE311 and Hurricane 2C LF363

2017

Markings Applied: Leader, AR L, VN T
The port side is painted as 460 (RAAF) Squadron Lancaster W5005, coded AR-L, which had nose art of a kangaroo playing bagpipes, indicating the Scottish background of one of the crew. The starboard side carries the 50 Squadron code letters VN-T, representing the Lancaster flown by Flight Officer Douglas Millikin DFC, grandfather of the BBMFs current Officer Commanding, Squadron Leader Andy Millikin, on twenty-seven of his first tour operations.

14 July 2017

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at RAF Fairford RIAT

14 July 2017

Photographer: Robert Nichols

Circa July 2024

David Cotton comments (15 August 2024): PA474 has recently, July/August 2024 had extensive work done for restoration and preservation of the airframe. She returned to flight following this and had at least one test flight.PA474 has returned to the air display arena even though the fighter section of the BBMF remains grounded following the Spitfire IX crash and the air investigation branch findings. PA474 is therefore the only aircraft currently flying as far as is known all other airframes remain grounded as of August 16 2024.