This information on other Lancaster variants has been posted simply because it was available.

Lancaster Variant
10N- Navigation Trainer
10P - Photographic Reconnaissance

 

NAVIGATION
DEVICE	USED ON	DESCRIPTION
AN/APN-3	10P	SHORAN is an acronym for SHOrt RAnge Navigation, a type of electronic navigation and bombing system which uses a precision radar beacon. It requires the AN/APN-3 receiver in the aircraft and two AN/CPN-2 or 2A ground stations.  A maximum range of 300 statute miles can be expected with a clear radio path
OTHER
Fairchild F224	10P	Ordnance survey camera. Made from 1948 to 1956 by the Fairchild Camera Company. Comes with a 6-inch f.6.3 Bausch and Lomb Metrogon single lens. The format was 9 inch by 9 inch and the magazine could hold 250 exposures. The K17B could be used in lieu of the F224. F224 Camera (Image courtesy NOAA)
K17B	10P	Ordnance survey camera. Made by the Fairchild Camera Company from 1944 to 1949. It used a single lens and a 9 inch by 9 inch format. The F224 could be used in lieu of the K17B. K17 Camera (Image courtesy NOAA)
Model ?	10P	Tri-met cameras

	10N  - Third Navigator's Station. It is situated between formers 22 and 24.
	10N - Navigator's Panel
	10P - First Navigator's Station. This is incorporated into the nose section of the 10P.
	10P - Navigator's Panel
	10P - Photographer's Station
	Tri-met and OS Camera Mountings. The tri-met cameras pointed to starboard, port and down.
	10P - Location of Photographic Equipment
Extracts from  EO 05-25A-2

Camera Installation 10S

On 10S aircraft, an F24 camera is installed in a type 25 mounting on the left hand side of the nose section between formers E and F. The camera rails are fitted into two brackets on the mounting structure, permitting them to slide horizontally at right angles to the centre line of the fuselage. The brackets slide vertically on mounting tubes which are braced to the bulkhead at former E by tubular struts. Six holes are drilled in the mounting tubes to permit installation of the camera at different heights. The camera is mounted so that the optical axis is normal to the line of flight.

The camera motor is mounted at the top of the bulkhead at former E and is connected to the camera by a Shakespeare cable. The camera itself is controlled by a type 35 camera control mounted on the bomb aimer's port panel. A camera heating panel is mounted below the bomb aimer's panel to supply current to the heating elements of the camera muff and lens heater.

Camera Installation on 10MR

On 10MR aircraft, modification 658 Part A introduces a rear facing F24 camera installed on a type 25 mount between formers 39 and 40 in addition to the original F24 camera in the nose section. Two type 35 camera controls, one for the forward camera and one for the rear facing camera, are mounted on a camera control panel on the right hand side of the nose section. A camera switch panel, below the type 35 controls, carries a switch for the rear facing camera heater muff.

Part B of modification 658 makes provision for the installation of various types of real facing cameras for day or night operation. An automatic camera control panel is mounted above the camera control panel. Incorporated in the automatic camera control panel are preselectors, an automatic distributor, BOMBS AND CAMERA selector switch, POWER, HEAT TEST, DISCHARGER and camera switches

A camera plug panel is installed on the left hand side of the fuselage forward of former 40 to supply power to the camera plug and the camera heat plug. A multi-barrel photoflash cartridge discharger is mounted on the left hand side between formers 23 and 24.

The automatic camera control panel enables the camera and flash discharger to be electrically connected into the bomb release circuit. The camera is automatically switched on and a photoflash cartridge released in sequence with bomb release during night operations. During day operations, the camera may be operated in automatic sequence with the bomb release without flash discharge.
 

A type 25 mount for an F24 camera in the Lancaster 10MR/MP. (Extract from  EO 05-25A-2)

Multi-Barrel Photoflash Discharger

The 1.75 or 1.50 inch multi-barrel photoflash discharger can fire up to six photoflash cartridges by remote control.

GENERAL

By 1949, the RCAF had three squadrons engaged in photo-mapping the north - 408 and 414 Squadrons, both based out of RCAF Station Rockcliffe in Ottawa and equipped with modified Lancaster bombers (the Mark 10P), and 413 Squadron, which possessed a polyglot of support aircraft. 414 Squadron's Lancasters had a vertical photographic capability, while the 408 Squadron aircraft used a tri-camera system that was linked to a short range navigation system called SHORAN. SHORAN, used a lattice of electronic beams transmitted from ground stations established by 413 Squadron. It allowed for accurate photomapping navigation.These operations provided a Canadian military presence, helped gather valuable information, and developed RCAF expertise in Arctic photographic operations under arduous conditions.

EQUIPMENT

A camera operator's station is incorporated in 10P type aircraft. The camera operator's seat is mounted on the fuselage floor between formers 27 and 28. An instrument panel is located between formers 25 and 27 on the left hand side of the fuselage.

Tri-Met Cameras

Three cameras are installed in a tri-met camera mount immediately aft of the bomb compartment rear bulkhead. Two alternative types of cameras could be used - the Fairchild F244 or the Fairchild K17B. Exposure is made through three optically flat hinged windows located in the lower section of the fuselage. These windows may be opened from outside the aircraft to facilitate cleaning. A view finder mounting ring is located in the floor on the left hand side of the fuselage adjacent to the cameras. When the view finder is in the stowed position, a metal cover plate blanks off the opening in the mounting ring.

Ordnance Survey Camera

An anti-vibration mounting to carry an ordnance survey camera is installed between formers 24 and 27, aft of the tri-met cameras. A detachable, optically flat window is installed in the fuselage floor and a view finder mounting ring is located aft of the camera.

Emergency equipment and exits. Anything specific to one variant is noted. Anything not noted is common to all variants. (Extract from  EO 05-25A-2)

Credits and References:

1) Leo Pettipas <lpettip(at)mts.net> Associate Air Force Historian. Air Force Heritage and History 1 Canadian Air Division.
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
2) Lancaster engineering manual EO 05-25A-2 dated 30 August 1957
3) F224 camera info : http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic3-3-150.pdf
4) F224 and K17 image:   www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/history/camera_timeline_web.pdf
5) Canadian Military Journal Vol 9 No. 1: Canada's Arctic Sky Spies: The Director's Cut  by Sean Maloney
 

Sept 06/10