Avro Lancaster III in flight, circa 1943

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 III was fitted with American-built Packard Merlin engines instead of the Rolls-Royce Merlin. Lancaster III ED592 was delivered to No. 50 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe in February 1943. Unfortunately, the aircraft was shot down over the Netherlands on 2 March 1943 and all seven crew members were killed.