Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyt  There's some debate about whether that really would have happened - the logistics of the transfer meant that they may not have arrived in time (in line with the Downfall schedule), and more importantly, MacArthur was very reluctant to use any non-US personnel if he could help it (and closer to the possible invasion he'd probably have made a greater fuss). |
Took that info from here:
http://www.raafawa.org.au/wa/museum/lanc/history.htm A total of 30 Lancaster squadrons were to be flown from Europe to the Far East between August and November 1945, to raid the Japanese mainland from bases in Eastern India and Okinawa. Their aircraft, designated F.E. (Far East) Lancasters. had modifications which Included more powerful Rolls Royce Merlin 24 engines of 1640 h.p.; Nash and Thompson rear turrets with two 0.5 Inch Browning machine guns instead of the earlier four .303 Brownings; a Martin dorsal turret with two more 0.5's and an additional 1800 litre fuel tank in the rear of the bomb bay. With a typical 3,200 kg bomb load, this extended the aircraft's range from 4,200 to 5,300 kilometres. Special lifeboat-dropping Lancasters would be available for rescue operations on long oversea raids. Other Tiger Force Lancasters were designated to carry Grand Slam and the almost equally destructive 5,300 kg Tallboy bombs over shorter ranges against special targets, or to operate in tactical close-support roles with the British / Indian Army In Burma.