04/09/2026
"G FOR GEORGE"
One of the most iconic aircraft in the Australian War Memorial’s collection is “G for George”, an Avro Lancaster Mk I, serial W4783, now on display in the new Anzac Hall.
Built in 1942 by Metropolitan-Vickers in Manchester, W4783 was delivered to No. 460 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force on 27 October 1942. Carrying the squadron code AR-G, she soon became known as “G for George”.
George flew 89 operational missions over Germany and occupied Europe between December 1942 and April 1944, including an incredible 15 raids on Berlin and the famous Peenemünde raid in August 1943, targeting the German V-weapon research facility.
Her final operational mission was a raid on Cologne on 20 April 1944, after which she was withdrawn from combat service.
Following an overhaul in Britain, George was flown to Australia by an all-Australian crew, arriving in Brisbane on 8 November 1944. She was allocated the RAAF serial A66-2 and toured Australia during the Third Victory Loan campaign before eventually becoming part of the Australian War Memorial collection.
First placed on display at the Memorial in 1955, G for George has since undergone extensive conservation and is now once again a centrepiece of the AWM.
A genuine wartime Lancaster, flown by Australians over Nazi-occupied Europe — and one of the most significant aircraft in Australia’s aviation heritage.
