Lancaster bombers preparing for take-off

Original Silver Gelatin photograph, c. 1944

9 x 18 cm

Ground crew remove the chocks from the wheel of a Lancaster bomber, prior to take-off. A series of Lancaster bombers are visible in the background, all preparing for a bombing raid, deep into occupied enemy territory. The lead aircraft is the veteran of twenty-six previous raids, as indicated by the bombs painted under the pilot’s cockpit window.

Condition: Generally very good.

Provenance: from the collection of Philip J R Moyes, author of many books on the RAF, most notably The Pictorial History which ran to several volumes.