Lincolns
SX974 was used by RAE for high altitude photography, and was specially lightened and streamlined, hence the cutaway bomb bay. Merlin 113's were fitted and the crew wore pressure waistcoats. 41,000 ft was achieved.
In the last year of her life she was assigned to 49 Sqn but still continued to be a 'high flyer'...In June 1954, F/Lt Jack Higginbottom and crew took a group of Scientists from Cambridge, to observe and photograph an eclipse of the sun from high altitude.
I think this photo was taken in Australia where she went to photograph Missile tests.
She became known as the 'Eclipse Lincoln'.