We only had such an escort before a fighter affiliation exercise.

That port outer, among other things, provides the tail turret hydraulics.

The picture, depicting the nose of PA474, emphasises the generous visibility provided by the “glasshouse”, with its built-in astrodome at the rear. As the author recalls, the front turret remained unoccupied for most of the trip, being locked in the central position.

Ah, Quasimodo's back in his turret - or is it a green back pack?

City of Lincoln in company with another Avro classic, a Vulcan of 617 Squadron, on May 16 last year.

A flight of Lancs could land on that runway, line astern, simultaneously.

Wot, no mid-upper? Perhaps he's on the Elsan.

Lancaster PA474 during one of its countless display appearances, taken before the mid upper turret was installed early in 1976. The astrodome is also conspicuously absent.

PA474 before it was christened City of Lincoln and the city crest added on the nose. The fixed tailwheel is prominent here.

Any two Merlins would keep you up, but you would lose some services.

The pilot’s seat and dual control column of PA474, with the throttle quadrant and second pair of rudder pedals visible.

Looking up at the pilot of PA474 from inside the nose.

Two views through the bomb aimer’s prone nose position on PA474, with bomb sight in position.

Both ends of a pair of .303s could be uncomfortable - but seldom lethal.

The engine instrument panel, with gauges monitoring oil and radiator temperatures and the contents of the six wing fuel tanks.

A glimpse aft through the main canopy, with both the astrodome and mid-upper gun positions occupied. Although movements of the mid-upper turret did not affect the aircraft, rotation of the tail turret was definitely felt through the controls by the pilot.

So long as you could stooge around on Gee, a DF loop was simply a stand-by.

The wireless operator’s position behind and below the glasshouse.