Westland Lysander

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lysander
Preserved Lysander in all-black special duties scheme
Role Army co-operation and liaison aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Westland Aircraft
First flight 15 June 1936
Introduction June 1938
Retired 1946 (UK)
Primary users Royal Air Force
Number built 1,786

The Westland Lysander is a British

Second World War
.

After becoming

occupied France with the help of the French Resistance. Royal Air Force army co-operation aircraft were named after mythical or historical military leaders; in this case the Spartan admiral Lysander
was chosen.

Design and development

In 1934 the

"Teddy" Petter. It was Petter's second aircraft design and he spent considerable time interviewing Royal Air Force pilots to find out what they wanted from such an aircraft. The army wanted a tactical and artillery reconnaissance aircraft to provide photographic reconnaissance and observation of artillery fire in daylight – up to about 15,000 yards (14 km) behind the enemy front. The result of Petter's pilot enquiries suggested that field of view, low-speed handling characteristics and STOL
performance were the important requirements.

occupied France
during World War II.

Davenport and Petter designed an aircraft to incorporate these features. The Lysander was to be powered by a

sheet steel. The front spar and lift struts were extrusions. The wing itself was fabric covered and its thickness was greatest at the strut anchorage, similar to that of later marks of the Stinson Reliant
high-winged transport monoplane.

Despite its appearance, the Lysander was aerodynamically advanced; being equipped with fully automatic wing

flaps[2] and a variable incidence tailplane. These refinements gave the Lysander a stalling speed of only 65 mph (56 kn; 105 km/h).[3] The tube that supported the wings and wheels was the largest Elektron alloy extrusion made at the time. Due to the difficulties involved in manufacturing such a large extrusion Canadian-built machines had a conventionally fabricated assembly. The Air Ministry requested two prototypes of the P.8 and the competing Bristol Type 148
, quickly selecting the Westland aircraft for production and issuing a contract in September 1936.

The high-lift devices gave the Lysander a short take off and landing (STOL) performance much appreciated by the Special Duties pilots such as Squadron Leader

flaps. Slow speed flight was therefore greatly simplified, "and it was possible to bring a Lysander down to land, if not like a lift, at least like an escalator".[4] The inboard slats were connected to the flaps and to an air damper in the port wing which governed the speed at which the slats operated. The outboard slats operated independently and were not connected and each was fitted with an air damper. On a normal approach, the inboard slats and the flaps would begin to open when the airspeed has dropped to about 85 mph (74 kn; 137 km/h) and be approximately half down at 80 mph (70 kn; 130 km/h). The only control that the pilot has is a locking lever which he can set to lock the flaps down once they have been lowered automatically.[5]

Operational history

United Kingdom

Lysander Mk.IIIAs of No. 1433 Flight RAF, over Madagascar in December 1942.

The first Lysanders entered service in June 1938, equipping squadrons for army co-operation and were initially used for message-dropping and

Burma Campaign of the Second World War.[6]

Four regular squadrons equipped with Lysanders accompanied the British Expeditionary Force to France in October 1939, and were joined by a further squadron early in 1940. Following the German invasion of France and the low countries on 10 May 1940, Lysanders were put into action as spotters and light bombers. In spite of occasional victories against German aircraft, they made very easy targets for the Luftwaffe even when escorted by Hurricanes.[7][8] Withdrawn from France during the Dunkirk evacuation, they continued to fly supply-dropping missions to Allied forces from bases in England; on one mission to drop supplies to troops trapped at Calais, 14 of 16 Lysanders and Hawker Hectors that set out were lost. 118 Lysanders were lost in or over France and Belgium in May and June 1940, of a total of 175 deployed.[8][9]

With the

an invasion of Britain, they were tasked with attacking the landing beaches with light bombs and machine guns.[13] They were replaced in the home-based army co-operation role from 1941 by camera-equipped fighters such as the Curtiss Tomahawk and North American Mustang carrying out reconnaissance operations, while light aircraft such as the Taylorcraft Auster were used to direct artillery.[14] Some UK-based Lysanders went to work operating air-sea rescue, dropping dinghies to downed RAF aircrew in the English Channel.[15]
Fourteen squadrons and flights were formed for this role in 1940 and 1941.

In India, Nos 20 and 28 Squadrons flying Westland Lysanders were listed as non-operational, but part of No. 221 Group RAF in the Army Co-operation role from Jamshedpur and Ranchi, respectively, on 1 July 1942.[16]

Special duties

Lysander in Italy evacuating an American OSS officer.

In August 1941 a new squadron, No. 138 (Special Duties), was formed to undertake missions for the Special Operations Executive to maintain clandestine contact with the French Resistance.[1] Among its aircraft were Lysander Mk.IIIs, which flew over and landed in occupied France. While general supply drops could be left to the rest of No. 138's aircraft, the Lysander could insert and remove agents from the continent or retrieve Allied aircrew who had been shot down over occupied territory and had evaded capture. For this role the Mk.IIIs were fitted with a fixed ladder over the port side to hasten access to the rear cockpit and a large drop tank under the belly. In order to slip in unobtrusively Lysanders were painted matte black overall (some early examples had brown/green camouflaged upper surfaces and later examples had grey/green upper surfaces). Operations almost always took place within a week of a full moon, as moonlight was essential for navigation. The aircraft undertook such duties until the liberation of France in 1944.

Lysanders were based at airfields at Newmarket in Suffolk and later Tempsford in Bedfordshire, but used regular RAF stations to fuel-up for the actual crossing, particularly RAF Tangmere. Flying without any navigation equipment other than a map and compass, Lysanders would land on short strips of land, such as fields, marked out by four or five torches or to avoid having to land, the agent, wearing a special padded suit, stepped off at very low altitude and rolled to a stop on the field.[17] They were originally designed to carry one passenger in the rear cockpit, but for SOE use the rear cockpit was modified to carry two passengers in extreme discomfort in case of urgent necessity.[18]

The pilots of No. 138, and from early 1942 No. 161 Squadron, transported 101 agents to and recovered 128 agents from Nazi-occupied Europe.[19] The Germans knew little about the British aircraft and wished to study one. Soldiers captured an intact Lysander in March 1942 when its pilot was unable to destroy it after a crash, but a train hit the truck carrying the Lysander, destroying the cargo.[20]

In the Far East, from 1944 No. 357 Squadron RAF operated six SD Lysanders as C Flight for dropping agents in support of Fourteenth Army in Burma.[21]

Lysanders were also used as target-towing and communication aircraft. Two aircraft (T1443 and T1739) were transferred to the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) for training and 18 were used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. All British Lysanders were withdrawn from service in 1946.

Free French

Lysander also joined the ranks of the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (

Gaullist cause against the Axis powers, and to attack Italian ground forces in Libya. As with all FAFL aircraft, Lysanders sported the Cross of Lorraine
insignia on the fuselage and the wings instead of the French tricolour roundel first used in 1914, to distinguish their aircraft from those flying for the Vichy French Air Force. Lysanders were mostly employed on reconnaissance missions, but were also used to carry out occasional attacks. In all, 24 Lysanders were used by the FAFL.

Canada

110 (AC) Squadron RCAF Lysander II in silver delivery scheme at RCAF Station Rockcliffe
Lysander II.T target tug with black and yellow stripes

One hundred and four British-built Lysanders were delivered to

Army Co-operation role, where they represented a major improvement over the antiquated Westland Wapiti
which could trace its origins back to 1916.

Initial training was conducted at

400 Squadron
overseas) and No. 112 Squadron RCAF.

Axis Powers. Although Operation Sea Lion – the planned German invasion of Great Britain – was averted by the British victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940, the high losses suffered by RAF Lysanders in the Battle of France resulted in any plans for cross-channel
offensive operations by Lysanders being put on hold, although the Canadian squadrons continued training with the Lysanders until suitable replacements were available.

Operational Training Units (OTUs) used Lysanders – painted in a high-visibility yellow-and-black-striped scheme – for target towing duties.[22]

For a brief period in 1940 when every available Hurricane fighter had been sent overseas to fight in the Battle of Britain, leaving the RCAF without a modern fighter aircraft at home in Canada, two RCAF Lysander-equipped squadrons which were supposed to convert to fighter aircraft but had none to convert to were re-designated as operational fighter squadrons.

118 Squadron also was redesignated as a fighter squadron. The Lysander completely lacked the capability to operate in a fighter role, and neither squadron saw action as a fighter unit while equipped with Lysanders, but their designation as fighter squadrons did allow RCAF fighter pilots to work up at a critical time without having to wait for the arrival of true fighter aircraft. No. 118 Squadron was disbanded in September 1940, and when it reformed in December 1940, still as a fighter squadron, it was equipped with 15 old, otherwise unwanted Grumman Goblin fighters produced by Canadian Car and Foundry. Both 111 and 118 Squadrons soon re-equipped with the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
, bringing the brief service of Lysanders in fighter squadrons to an end.

By late 1944 all Canadian Lysanders had been withdrawn from flying duties.[22]

Other countries

Other export customers for the Lysander included the

1947–1949 Palestine war
.

Civilian use

After the war a number of surplus ex-Royal Canadian Air Force Lysanders were employed as aerial applicators with Westland Dusting Service, operating in Alberta and western Canada.[24] Two of these were saved for inclusion in Lynn Garrison's collection for display in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Production

A total of 1,786 Lysanders were built, including 225 manufactured under

Malton near Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the late 1930s (1938-1939).[25]

Variants

Washington D.C.
Lysander Mk.I
Powered by a 890 hp (660 kW)
Lewis or Vickers K machine gun
in rear cockpit. Optional spat-mounted stub wings carried 500 lb (230 kg) of bombs. Four 20 lb (9.1 kg) bombs could be carried under rear fuselage.
Lysander TT Mk.I
Lysander Mk.Is converted into target tugs.
Lysander Mk.II
Powered by one 905 hp (675 kW) Bristol Perseus XII sleeve valve radial piston engine.
Lysander TT Mk.II
Target tug conversion of the Lysander Mk.II.
Lysander Mk.III
Powered by a 870 hp (650 kW) Bristol Mercury XX or 30 radial piston engine, 350 delivered from July 1940. Twin 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns in rear cockpit.
Lysander Mk.IIIA
As Lysander Mk.I, with Mercury 20 engine. Twin 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in rear cockpit.
Lysander Mk.III SCW (Special Contract Westland)
Special version for clandestine operations. No armament, long-range 150 gallon fuel tank, fixed external ladder.
Lysander TT Mk.III
Lysander Mk.Is, Mk.IIs and Mk.IIIs converted into target tugs.
Lysander TT Mk.IIIA
100 purpose-built target tugs.
P.12 Delanne Lysander
The P.12, also sometimes referred to as the Wendover[
Boulton-Paul turrets were considered but only a ballasted dummy with no power system was installed. The main wing and forward fuselage remained unchanged. Trials did not start until July 1941 and by the time A&AEE evaluation was complete the need for a breach-strafer had disappeared.[26][27][28]
"Pregnant Perch"
L6473 adapted with a ventral gun position, resulting in a bulged fuselage belly, again for beach strafing. During testing in June 1940 an engine failure led to a force landing and the aircraft ended up "with its nose in a ditch".[29][26][a]

In 1940 K6127 was tested with a pair of

threatened German invasion of Britain.[31]

Operators

Main article: List of Westland Lysander operators

Surviving aircraft

Lysander Mk.III flown by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario
Shuttleworth Collection Lysander during an air show

A number of Lysanders are preserved in museums in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium, and elsewhere.

In popular culture

In 1963,

BBC TV transmitted a series of dramas called Moonstrike about the insertion of clandestine SOE operatives into occupied France. The first episode featured a reconstruction of a typical Lysander operation.[50]

Specifications (Lysander Mk.III)

Lysander Mk.I drawing, with additional side view of Mk.III (SD) covert operations aircraft.

Data from Westland Aircraft since 1915[51]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (1 pilot, 1 pass.)
  • Length: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
  • Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
  • Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
  • Wing area: 260 sq ft (24 m2)
  • Airfoil: RAF 34[52] modified[53]
  • Empty weight: 4,365 lb (1,980 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,330 lb (2,871 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 ×
    Bristol Mercury XX
    9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 870 hp (650 kW)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 212 mph (341 km/h, 184 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • Stall speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
  • Range: 600 mi (970 km, 520 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 21,500 ft (6,600 m)
  • Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,048 m) in 8 minutes
  • Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 915 ft (279 m)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in wheel fairings and two more for the observer.
  • Bombs: 4 × 20 lb (9 kg) bombs or 1 × drop tank (fuel or cargo) under rear fuselage and/or 500 lb (227 kg) of bombs or drop tanks on undercarriage stub wing hardpoints (if fitted)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ^ The landing was made uphill and avoiding high tension power lines[30]
  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7524-9211-7
    .
  2. ^ Flight 1938 p. 572
  3. ^ Taylor 1969, p. 443.
  4. ^ Verity 1978 p. 15
  5. ^ Wake-Walker 2014 p. 64
  6. ISBN 0-304-36157-7
    .
  7. ^ Air International, January 1984, pp. 26–27.
  8. ^ a b March 1998, p. 243.
  9. ^ James 1991, p. 247.
  10. ^ Air International January 1984, p. 27.
  11. ^ Munro, Ronald Lyell. Above the Battle: An Air Observation Pilot at War (Kindle ed.). Pen and Sword. p. Kindle location 239.
  12. ^ Rickard, J. "No. 613 Squadron (RAF): Second World War", HistoryOfWar.org, 6 April 2012.
  13. ^ "RAF Museum: Westland Lysander III." Royal Air Force Museum, 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  14. ^ Air International February 1984, p. 81.
  15. ^ Air International February 1984, p. 82.
  16. ^ Air Historical Branch, R.A.F. Narrative (First Draft), The Campaigns in the Far East, Volume III, India Command, September 1939 to November 1943, Appendix 2, 167..
  17. ISBN 978-0-907854-02-9
    .
  18. ^ Griffiths, Frank, Winged Hours, 1981, p. 12.
  19. ISBN 1-85532-526-8
    .
  20. ^ Breuer 2000, pp. 135–137.
  21. ^ Mason, Profile 146
  22. ^ a b Kostenuk and Griffin 1977, p. 56.
  23. ^ Steve Rothwell, Military Ally or Liability, The Egyptian Army 1936–42. Retrieved June 2020.
  24. ^ Milberry 1979, pp. 98, 213.
  25. ^ Milberry 1979, p. 116.
  26. ^ a b James, 1991, p.244
  27. ^ Bowers 1984 pp. 34–5
  28. ^ Philip Jarrett; "Nothing Ventured...", Aeroplane Monthly, June 1990, pp.334-7.
  29. ^ James 1991 pp. 243–4
  30. ^ Mason (1967) p11
  31. ^ Mason, 1967, p.11
  32. ^ "Airframe Dossier – Westland Lysander IIIA, s/n 1589 RCAF". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  33. ^ "Westland Lysander". The Canadian Museum of Flight. Canadian Museum of Flight. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  34. ^ "Westland Lysander Mk. IIIA". Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  35. ^ Kolasa, Rich, "Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Flyfest Hamilton, Ontario, 20–21 June 2009", World Airshow News, archived from the original on 7 July 2011, retrieved 4 September 2009
  36. ^ "The Sergeant Clifford Stewart Westland Lysander IIIA". Vintage Wings of Canada. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  37. ^ "It's Official; She's Airborne!". Vintage Wings of Canada. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  38. ^ "Transfert Lysander statique vers Landen". Sabena Old Timers (in French). Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  39. ^ "Airframe Dossier – Westland Lysander III, s/n 2442 RCAF, c/r OO-SOT". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  40. ^ "Aviation". Reynolds Museum. Government of Alberta. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  41. ^ "News 14/11/2009 : Westland Lysander T1562 V9562 in restoration for the Royal Army Museum in Brussels". bamf & bamrs diary. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  42. ^ "Westland Lysander III". Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  43. ^ Simpson, Andrew (2013). "INDIVIDUAL HISTORY" (PDF). Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  44. ^ The Shuttleworth Collection – Lysander Retrieved: 9 March 2017
  45. ^ Westland Lysander – Aircraft Restoration Company Retrieved: 22 May 2019
  46. ^ "WESTLAND LYSANDER III". Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  47. ^ "Westland Lysander IIIa". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  48. ^ "Westland Lysander IIIA". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  49. ^ "Airframe Dossier – Westland Lysander, c/n 1244". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  50. ^ "Moonstrike". Action TV. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  51. ^ James 1991, pp. 252–253.
  52. ^ "RAF 34 AIRFOIL (raf34-il)". airfoiltools.com. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  53. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography

External links

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