A
great shot of a Wellington in Flight, 215 Squadron P for Peggy over Punjab
India
COPYRIGHT
Liam & F/O William Venner
A
Cartoon depicting the Wellinton's legendary abilities to stay
aloft
despite severe damage. (Slightly exaggerated of course)
Picture
1960's AFC Model Wellington box
BOMBING
UP A WELLINGTON
source:
RAF web site
The
Vickers Wellington was primarily a Bomber aircraft
sometimes also used for maritime reconnaissance. It carried a normal crew
of six with the exception of the MKV and VI where a
crew of three was used. Maximum speed was 235 mph (MK1c) 255 mph (MK III,
X) and 299 mph (MK IIII). The normal operating range was 1805 miles (except
MK III) which was 1470 miles. Armarment consisted of two 0.303"
machine guns mounted in both the front and rear turrets. One 0.303" machine
gun mounted in the beam gun position, one each side of the aircraft. Maximum
bomb load 4,500 lbs. A total of 11,461 Wellington's of all variants were built,
the most of any British multi-engined aircraft design.
It
was designed by Sir Barnes Neville Wallis, also famous for the 'bouncing'
bomb, which was used by the specially formed 617 Squadron of the RAF to
destroy the Mohne and Eder Dams in Germany's Ruhr district in 1943. The
design for the geodetic structure of the Wellington arose out of his earlier
work on the R100 airship. His first aeroplane to use this unique Geodetic
design in full was the Wellesley followed in 1936 by the Wellington bomber.
The "Wimpy" as it came to be known, was almost completely fabric
covered but under the flimsy outer skin, the geodetic construction enabled
the aircraft to sustain tremendous amounts of battle damage; and still be
capable of flying. **Wimpy
is from Popeye's friend Wellington Wimpy.**
The
Wellington was Vickers' response to the Air Ministry specification B.9/32
request for a twin-engined
medium bomber. Designed to replace the RAF's obsolete Heyford bombers, the
prototype Wellington (K4049) first flew in June 1936. It was an immediate
success, almost doubling the performance of the Heyford. The Wellington
was able to carry double the bomb load twice the distance agreed on in the
initial contract specification. Two months after the prototypes first
flight, the Air Ministry placed an order for 180 Production Mk.I's and in
October 1938 the type entered service with RAF 99 Squadron stationed
at Mildenhall. On 4 September 1939 fourteen aircraft of Bomber Command's
only six fully equipped Wellington squadron's took part in the first bombing
sorties over Germany.
During
the wars first years, the main variant of the Wellington was the Mk.IC,
a total of 2,685 being built. By middle 1941 Wellington Mk.II's and Mk.III's
had also entered service and were soon to be the most prominent RAF medium
bomber type. However, it was quickly becomming obsolete and It's main role
in bombing operations finally came to a close when the last offensive sorties
against Hanover on October 8/9, 1943 ( 08/10/1943 )were carried out. In
a lessor role the Wellington continued to play a part with both Coastal
Command and as an aircrew training aircraft within Bomber Command. The Wimpy
would not be fully retired from its bombing role until March 13th, 1945
when No. 40 Squadron, RAF dropped the 4,000 lbs. "cookies" on
Trevisio in the Italian theatre.
Source:
Various. Source: Wellington Interior photo COPYRIGHT Liam & F/O
William Venner
The
Interior of the Wellington facing the tail, I assume this must be
an
entrance or loading door ?
COPYRIGHT
Liam & F/O William Venner
A very rare shot of a Wellington Radio
The Wellington turret
COPYRIGHT
Liam & F/O William Venner
GOING
DOWN ! Wellington, Polish markings, takes a hit to the tail.
Source
: Picture from a Matchbox model lid
214
WELLINGTON BU-G
Source
: Sketched in POW camp Marshall A Johnson
