Historic photograph of the famous RAAF No. 467 Squadron Avro Lancaster B.I (R5868) "S for Sugar" loaded with a 4,000 lb "Cookie" bomb at RAF Waddington, 1944.
Legendary Avro Lancaster "S for Sugar" (R5868) at RAF Waddington:
This remarkable wartime photograph captures ground personnel servicing the famous Avro Lancaster Mk.I (Serial Number R5868), bearing the code "PO-S" ("S for Sugar"), as it is prepared for its 97th operational combat sortie at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, England, during 1944.
Assigned to No. 467 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), this heavy bomber achieved one of the most distinguished operational records in RAF Bomber Command history, surviving a total of 137 combat missions over occupied Europe.
Ordnance Loadout: The 4,000 lb "Cookie" Blockbuster:
The photograph clearly details the immense firepower prepared for nocturnal area bombing raids over German industrial targets:
- Center Trailer: The massive cylindrical casing in the middle is the 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) HC (High Capacity) blast bomb, popularly known by aircrews as the "Cookie" or "Blockbuster." Designed to blow away roofs and walls of industrial buildings, exposing their interiors to incendiary bombs.
- Flanking Trailers: Positioned on secondary bomb trolleys are standard 500 lb (227 kg) GP (General Purpose) high-explosive bombs to be loaded into the 33-foot bomb bay alongside the main blast charge.
- Ground Crew Servicing: Armorers and mechanics work on the wing surfaces and engine nacelles of the four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, ensuring mechanical readiness prior to evening takeoff.
Construction History and Survival:
The structural background of aircraft R5868 is unique among surviving wartime airframes:
- Conversion from Avro Manchester: Originally ordered and laid down as a twin-engine Avro Manchester, the airframe was completed on the assembly line as a four-engine Lancaster Mk.I and delivered in June 1942.
- Early Service ("Q-Queenie"): Initially assigned to No. 83 Squadron RAF under the nose code "Q-Queenie," it flew numerous raids during the Battle of the Ruhr before being transferred to RAAF No. 467 Squadron in September 1943.
- 100 Mission Milestone: In May 1944, R5868 became the first RAF Bomber Command heavy bomber to successfully complete 100 operational sorties, a testament to both crew skill and mechanical luck.
Preservation at the RAF Museum London:
Recognized for its immense historical significance, R5868 was selected for permanent preservation immediately following the war in 1945.
After extensive structural restoration in 1972, this historic airframe—the oldest surviving Avro Lancaster in existence—is currently on permanent public display at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, London, serving as a monument to Allied Bomber Command crews.
📍 Location: RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
📅 Date: 1944
📷 Photographer: Unknown (Imperial War Museum Collection / RAF Official Photographer)
📰 Primary Source: Imperial War Museum Archives
Recommended reading:
- Operational history of No. 467 Squadron RAAF during the Strategic Bombing Offensive
- Development and blast damage tactics of the 4,000 lb "Cookie" bomb
- The transition from Avro Manchester to the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber
- Surviving WWII Lancaster airframes preserved in international aviation museums