CANADA’S MAGNIFICENT AVRO LANCASTER FM213 IS WEARING A DAMBUSTERS-THEMED LIVERY THIS YEAR. ERIC DUMIGAN REFLECTS ON THE HISTORY OF THE ONTARIO-BASED BOMBER.
As one of just two airworthy Avro Lancasters in the world – and the only one currently offering flights to the public – the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s B.X model, FM213, justifiably receives plenty of attention.
The Hamilton, Ontariobased operator frequently applies temporary markings to the bomber’s port side, ensuring its appearance remains ‘fresh’ and enabling it to commemorate significant anniversaries.
For 2018, to mark 75 years since the legendary Dambusters raid (see July issue), FM213 has been adorned with dedicatory nose art, and the squadron codes and serial number of the aircraft flown by 617 Squadron’s Wg Cdr Guy Gibson on the night of May 15/16, 1943. Flying as ED932/AJ-G, this lauded machine is a distinctive and poignant sight in Canadian skies.
Although it’s had several identities over the decades, FM213 is usually nicknamed ‘VeRA’, derived from the 419 ‘Moose’ Squadron unit codes, VR-A, it wears. This livery is always retained on the starboard side, even when flying with temporary markings to port. It’s also sometimes referr…
