	The Avro Lincoln in Argentina
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Article and drawings: Juan José Martin

Historical review

The history of Avro during World War II began with the construction of the Manchester bomber, although its service life was short because it did not fulfill the expectations, nevertheless, served like platform of the most famous one, the Lancaster, that later was the support of the Bomber Command until 1945. The experience obtained in combat forced the decision to improve the Lancaster, reason why of the design tables of Avro the Lincoln was born as model 694. The prototype, denominated at first Lancaster IV, flew for the first time in June of 1944. The production of the Lincoln was increased quickly, from 66 per month, in March of 1945, up to 123 in May, and arriving at 200 in August of the same year. Although they did not arrive to be proven in combat during World War II, the opportunity appeared in January of 1947, when terrorist movements in Malaysia and Singapur began, and where was used from that year until 1950. The Lincoln was not only operated in battle missions, but that also was used like an excellent platform for diverse developments, in special of engines; therefore they served to tester developments of the Rolls Royce Derwent, Avon, of the Bristol Phoebus, Theseus and Proteus; and of the Armstrong-Siddeley Python, between many other importance projects. The total of the Lincoln produced was of 624 units, of which 532 had belonged to the RAF and the rest when finished the war to fill the orders of foreign air forces: eighteen Mk-I for Argentina, a Mk-XV for Canada and fifty four Mk-30 and nineteen Mk-31 for Australia. Of the total manufactured, only four complete units are conserved at the moment in the world: two in Argentina, two in England and the front section of an Australian airplane.

Survivor Lincoln in the Aeroparque museum, city of Buenos Aires.

In Argentina

Towards ends of the ‘40 decade, the necessity had become evident to renew the obsolete material in the Armed Forces and special the one of the Military Aeronautics, that had obsolete materials or of national manufacture, manufactured in wood by the shortage of strategic materials. Many important factors influenced in the election and the possibilities of acquisition of the same one. During the Second World war, the Argentine neutrality served the aims as England, beneficiary with foods and materials of first necessity that arrived from here. From the 4 of January of 1945, the Air Force experienced a fundamental change in its structure. In this date, when being created the Secretariat of Aeronautics, the Argentine Military Aviation happened of the scope of the Army to an institution practically constituted like an air ministry. This reconstruction of all aerial means of Argentina, with the exception of the Navy aviation, took place when being of manifesto the importance of aviation as fundamental element for the profit of the success in the demonstrated military operations in the great conflict that was getting rid. Finalized the war, England offered to pay the debt with the condition of which the currencies were used within their territory; thanks to this, Argentina obtained an important suspension of the blockade towards 1947, when Great Britain communicated to the United States its intention to treat in the same way to the South American country that to the other countries of Latin America. This announcement agreed with the negotiations that were carried out between both nations on the sale of the railroads, situation than more advisable so that Great Britain could materialize both businesses: trains and arms. Surpassed mainly the political disadvantages, Argentina continued with the negotiations, those that had stagnated from 1946 principles. In spite of the objections of the United States, the British government approved all contracts contracted with the armament manufacturers, who ascended to a sum near 20 million pounds sterling. In 1947, a group of Argentine representatives visited Binbrook in search of information and advising on the airplanes that were in service then in the RAF; although the Argentine interest in the Lincoln was not new, the visit to this establishment was fundamental, being decided immediately the purchase of thirty bombers of B Mk-I model. Of the totality of 45 acquired bombers, the 15 Lancasters (registered B-031 to B-045 in the Argentine Air Force) they had served in the RAF, while the first 12 Lincolns (registered B-001 to B-012), although with RAF identification, never served in the same one. In June of 1947, the order of the Argentine Air Force was already a fact, reason why Avro began with the enlistment of the required airplanes. In principle some special equipment used by the RAF, as H2S radars, Rebecca and Gee, were removed, that is to say, they were taken to the Mk-I standard, with its complete armament; nevertheless they had to solve some problems arisen from the long inactivity period. Great part of the armament had to be completed since to a great extent they had been cannibalized, in addition had to be replaced the wheels, that had been made oval during the period of parking of almost two years. Another subject to solve was the little experience of the Argentine pilots in four engined airplanes, by which the first twelve machines was provided with dual controls; also it was chosen to change the Rolls Royce (RR) Merlin 68-A engines, of which they were in favor of that being developed then, therefore the B-005 served like proving bed of the modern RR Merlin 621-15, conceived for great transport airplanes, and soon adopted in all the Argentine Lincolns. Before the delivery to the Argentine Air Force, some integral technicians of the Avro traveled to Argentina to collaborate and to train the Argentine personnel in the operation land tasks and some fundamental maintenance steps. The first Lincoln to arrive at the country was the B-001 in September of 1947, making flights on Buenos Aires and in individual on the Government House, in May square; once finalized these first demonstration flights, the machine was transported in exhibition to the 9 of July Avenue, in where it was exhibited like the main attraction. The disarmament task was not easy, since the personnel assigned for made it did not have the carried out experience for the necessary suitability; this type of works never had been made in Argentina, which would repel soon in the operativity of this airplane. Nevertheless, after a trip of more of a day by earth (they had to disassemble railway barriers, electrical bridges, layings, etc.), the Lincoln arrived finally at the Buenos Aires downtown. The rest of the bombers was arriving gradually, manned by personnel with ample experience in flying Lancastrian airplanes (modified Lancaster) for British airlines, arriving the last airplane in November of 1948.

The first Lincoln arrived at the country in exhibit in the 9 de Julio Avenue, Buenos Aires, in 1947.

In service

Among other disadvantages, these airplanes had to use a fuel, for that time, special and imported, the 100/130 aviation gasoline. The necessity was evident to produce this fuel in the country, thus the Main Directorate of Military Manufactures (DGFM) in collaboration with YPF (national petroleum company), was led the manufacture of the same one, which demanded a singular magnitude effort. The V Aerial Brigade, with its air crew, took part in innumerable operatives, some of which they were made in combination with other Air Force units. From 1952 it was begun with the accomplishment of realistic exercises, when participating the bombers next to the Gloster Meteor interceptors, so is the case of one made in Tandil in 1952, in which they were used the Avro Lincolns like bombers force and Gloster Meteor and Fiat G-55 like intercepting force. The intention of this operative was to take a coordinated attack to Buenos Aires city to verify their air defense. Another operative of the important ones was one carried out in 1953 in the San Roque dam, in Cordoba province. The same one was totally innovating, since the famous tactics of the Dam Busters of the RAF practiqued. In order to be carried out they had to be taken special measures, among them the replacement of the standard sight by a specially designed one; although this stayed only as a project, opened the panorama to introduce novel offensive capabilities and attack abilities in the future. The participation of the Lincolns had become very frequent, in special in surprise operatives on other bases. One of the most important exercises was denominated Soberanía, consisting of the first squadron flight to the south marine coast Twelve Gloster Meteor, two C-47, a Dove and three Lincolns participated, and the intention was to evaluate the possibility of operate with reactors from southern bases. In January of 1960, a ship patrol craft of the Navy detected a nonidentified submarine; with the object of locating it and later neutralize it, two Lincolns were commissioned, those that after several attacks managed to hit it, apparently without serious consequences for the furtive intruder. Thanks to their tremendous firepower, the Lincolns became appraised elements to repress in the happened revolutionary attempts in the country from 1951 to 1962.

The B-020 show the commonest paint scheme and marks used by the Lincolns in the country.

The Lincoln B-010 with the wings lined in orange and the tail painted of the same color by the Triton I operative, made in Mar del Plata. Can be observed the badge in the nose.

The B-026 in Villa Reynolds, San Luis, in 1967, with a non-common paint scheme applied to these airplanes. Lamentably the exactitude of the colors is uncertain.

This Lincoln shows the "rebel" bands after landing in Pajas Blancas, Cordoba, during the "Liberating Revolution" that overthrew Peron in 1955.

The Lincoln B-022, adapted for long distance flights and like tanker airplane, assigned as support airplane for the F-86 Sabres and later to the Antarctic Task Force with this paint scheme.

The “Cruz del Sur” (Southern Cross)

Of the 12 initial Lincolns, originally of the RAF, one of it was rather in England to be drastically modified. This airplane, after being bought by the Argentine Air Force, like all the rest through the representative of Avro in the country, is decided to transform it into a long reach transport and navigation trainer, being considered already the use to that it would be destined like support means to the Antarctica policy in developing that then. The introduced modifications were carried out by Avro in England, and consisted of placing the nose and tail cone of the Lancastrian, eliminating themselves all the armament, and the installation of a celestial navigation cupola in the place of the eliminated dorsal turret. The fuel capacity was increased, taking it to the original 3,580 gallons to 4,615 gallons, by the aggregate of a nose tank and three fuel tanks more in the bomb bay. In addition, was equipped with the best navigation instruments of that time and with additional seats to transport up to 12 passengers. The airplane thus transformed has been denominated by most of the authors like model Avro 695 "Lincolnian", but in fact this is not exact, since the Lincolnian were modifications conducted to transform the Lincolns into freighters. This airplane continued being an Avro 694 Lincoln, equivalent to a similar modification made in an airplane of the RAF, and denominated the "Aries 11". The matriculation initially assigned by the Argentine Air Force to this airplane was B-003. After the modifications done by Avro, it made his first flight in England in July 1948, taking place the transfer flight just by the end of February of 1949, arriving at Moron base in March. By few months it was flown with his military matriculation, until finally the 8 of February of 1950 are registered like civilian aircraft in the National Registry of Aircrafts, to name of the Aeronautics Ministry, receiving the indicative LV-ZEI and shortly after the name "Cruz del Sur" (Southern Cross). From that moment the life of this airplane happened enough to be shaken, because it took part in several Antarctic campaigns, on behalf of the Ministry and soon like member of the FATA (Antarctic Tasks Air Force), also making some interesting international flights. Nevertheless, in spite of his civil matriculation, always flew manned by Air Force personnel.

The Lincoln "Cruz del Sur" (Southern Cross) matriculated LV-ZEI, and assigned to the Antarctic Task Air Force (FATA).

The operative life of these English bombers lasted almost twenty years, from 1948 to 1967, when the last Lincoln was officially retired. These noble machines were replaced in the V Aerial Brigade by the A-4B Skyhawks, but in its specific function just by the Canberra, at the beginning of 1970.

Badge present in the nose of some Lincolns, that shows the Argentine comic strip personage, the indian "Patoruzu", riding a bomb.

AVRO 694 LlNCOLN B MK-II (RAF standard)

Powerplants: 4 Rolls Royce Merlin 68-A of 1750 HP each one.
Wingspan: 36,60 mts.
Length: 26,12 mts.
Wing area: 132 m2.
Empty weight: 18,800 kgs.
Maximum weight: 32,250 kgs.
Maximum speed: 500 km/h.
Cruise speed: 344 km/h to 6,000 mts.
Ceiling: 9.300 mts.
Maximum range: 4,700 km.

Cockpit of one of the Argentine Lincolns.

Bibliography:
“Aerodeportes” Magazine.
“Aeroespacio” Magazine.
Airships Series N°2, “Lincoln”, Jose and Oscar Rodriguez.
“Aviation Encyclopedia”, Delta Publishing.