Similarly, RAF Lincolns missed out on combat service in World War 2 altogether. The first Lincoln bomber arrived to No. 57 Squadron of East Kirby in 1945 and they were joined in August by No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF. The Empire of Japan capitulated in August of 1945 and the formal surrender occurred in early September, bringing an end to hostilities in the Asia-Pacific Theater for the interim. However, a great threat loomed in the Soviet Union which ushered in its communist government wherever it could. As such, the RAF continued accepting deliveries of the Lincoln which now formed a critical long-range bombing arm during the tumultuous Cold War years to follow. Some 32 RAF squadrons would eventually field some form of the Lincoln with many primarily acting as a deterrent to Soviet actions across Europe. Some were also converted to aerial tankers for inflight refueling. The RAF fielded their Lincolns in anger against pro-communist forces over Kenya (against Mau Mau rebels during the Kenyan Emergency, 1952-1960) and over Malaya (during the Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960). RAF Lincolns were lastly used as reconnaissance platforms during the Aden Emergency (1963-1967).
Australian Lincoln bombers formed with No. 82 Wing RAAF out of Amberley and, by mid-March of 1949, four squadrons constituted the type (a total of seven eventually operated Lincolns). Australian Lincolns were produced locally and operated alongside their British counterparts over Malaya before their ultimate retirement in 1961. Beyond the basic B.Mk 30 long-range bomber form, the RAAF also utilized the B.Mk 30A heavy bomber variant which incorporated a lengthened nose and Rolls-Royce Merlin 102 series engines. The B.Mk 31 became a dedicated maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform.
The Royal Canadian Air Force operated just three Avro Lincolns from 1946 into 1948. The end of World War 2 curtailed any need for procurement of an expensive heavy bomber. Local production (by Victor Aircraft) netted just one aircraft.
The Avro Lincoln was purchased in number by the Argentine Air Force beginning in 1947 and these functioned up until 1965. These Lincolns proved useful in their given heavy bomber role and were used as such against rebel counter-government forces in the September 1951 coup attempt. In the 1955 revolution, the bomber was fielded by both government and rebel forces. The last frontline Lincoln in Argentine service was officially removed in 1967.
Beyond the dedicated Lincoln B.Mk I/B.Mk 30 and B.Mk II long-range heavy bomber forms, the series saw a few notable variants trialed or produced: the Lincoln III was a proposed maritime reconnaissance platform also intended for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) which, modified extensively as the Lincoln ASR.Mk 3 , became the Avro Shackleton instead . The Lincoln B.Mk IV was the Lincoln B.Mk II bomber upgraded with Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 engines. The Avro 695 "Lincolnian" was a dedicated transport variant of the Lincoln bomber, its ordnance-carrying capabilities dropped in favor of more internal space for cargo.
In all, production of Avro Lincolns reached 604 examples. A.V. Roe handled 168 of the total while Vickers added another 80. However, Armstrong Whitworth (Coventry) was responsible for a bulk of production which totaled 281 examples. 73 examples came from Australian facilities. The long-running Cold War reach of Lincolns ensured their place in military aviation history. All were given up by the RAF due to age and were eventually superseded by the new generation of large, jet-powered heavy bombers no en vogue across many militaries of the world. For other operators, the type was simply dropped from service without replacement.
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