Avro Lancaster ASR.III / ASR.3
At the End of the Second World War, Lend-Lease aircraft were returned to the USA. As a result, the RAF lacked a long range ASR aircraft. To fill the gap, Avro Lancaster B.III bombers were modified for air-sea rescue, with three dipole ventral antennas fitted aft of the radome and carrying an airborne lifeboat in an adapted bomb bay. The armament was often removed and the mid-upper turret faired-over, especially in post-war use. Observation windows were added to both sides of the rear fuselage, a port window just forward of the tailplane and a starboard window into the rear access door. A number of ASR 3 conversions were fitted with Lincoln-style rudders.
Avro Lancaster ASR.III of 279 Squadron RAF 
Avro Lancaster ASR Mk III 
Avro Lancaster ASR.3 RF310 RL-A 
Avro Lancaster ASR Mk III SW366. Later converted to a GR.3/MR.3 
Avro Lancaster ASR Mk III RF324 of No. 279 Squadron RAF with airborne lifeboat 
Avro Lancaster ASR Mk III RF324 of No. 279 Squadron RAF dropping lifeboat 
Avro Lancaster ASR Mk III RF324 of No. 279 Squadron RAF dropping lifeboat
