Bomber county: Lincolnshire sunset, 1943

Avro Lancasters from No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron departing south-eastwards over the city of Lincoln from RAF Dunholme Lodge. Navigators in charge, each aircraft would make its own way to its operating altitude before converging at a pre-determined time for the long haul to Germany. Fully laden with bombs, ammunition and fuel, the older machines would labour to make height.