After being used for trials, HM164 was operated by the Air Transport Auxiliary. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Hit by flak near Gace, France, on August 20, 1944. Pilot bailed out but died five days later from his injuries. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

One of the 75 aircraft ordered by France and diverted to the UK following the fall of France to the Germans. This 75 were divided into completed aircraft in full French specifications that needed to be modified to RAF specifications and those that came off the production line to RAF specs. Notably, the RAF wanted Pratt and Whitney Wasp engines and not the Wright Cyclones the French preferred. AH703 served operationally in the Middle East. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

A Lancaster with radial engines - Bristol Hercules. To guard against the possibility of shortages of RR Merlins, the Lancaster was adapted to take the Bristol engine. This is the prototype, built at Chadderton and assembled and first flown from Ringway on 26 November 1941. 300 production aircraft were built by Armstrong Whitworth and served with six Bomber Command squadrons. From Avro 60 years ago.