Avro Lancaster I aircraft of 207 Squadron in flight, 20 June 1942

The Avro Lancaster was designed as a four-engined replacement for the Avro Manchester, using four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines instead of two Rolls-Royce Vultures. The prototype first flew on 9 January 1941.

The Avro Lancaster I entered service with No. 207 Squadron at RAF Bottesford in March 1942. The squadron continued to operate the Lancaster as part of Bomber Command until 1949 when it received its replacement, the Avro Lincoln. The squadron is currently the operational conversion unit for the F-35B Lightning II at RAF Waddington.