INDEX OF NAVAL AIRCRAFT

 

  

Vickers Wellington
 

History

The Vickers Wellington was a British built twin-engined medium bomber of geodetic construction which was first deployed with the RAF in 1937, and the prototype first flew on 15 June 1936. It was the main British bomber during the first part of WWII, but the RAF was soon forced to abandon daylight attacks because of its vulnerability. The Wellington was in production until the end of the war. After its replacement in RAF Bomber Command by the new four-engined bombers it was flown on numerous other duties, and some were used until 1953. The Mk.X introduced a fuselage structure of light alloy, instead of steel. There were also prototypes and a small production series (about 60) of the Mk.V and Mk.VI, with early cabin pressurisation systems, which did not enter service. Wellingtons were built with Pegasus, Hercules, Merlin or Twin Wasp engines.
Number built totalled 11,461 of all versions including 3,804 Wellington Mk.X
 
Fleet Air Arm history
Vickers Wellington
Total FAA 1939-1945:             22
First delivered to RN:              1942
First squadron 1939 -1945:       782 sqdn 1942
Last served with RN                1946
The Fleet Air Arm received a total of 22 Vickers Wellingtons 1939-1945, all were transfers from the RAF. The first was deployed with the RN in December 1942 to 782 squadron (L4244). The remainder saw service with 716, 785, 762, 765, 782 and 783 and 765 squadrons. Wellingtons L4244 , L4303 etc were used for ASV training from February 1944 with 783 squadron, and Wellington HE274 served on Fighter affiliation with 765 squadron up until 1946.

The type remained in Fleet Air Arm service until Spring 1946, the last two included HZ470 which crashed whilst serving with 765 squadron at Hal Far in March 1946, and Wellington HE274 which crashed in April 1946.

Aircraft Type:
 Vickers Wellington
Mark:
 Wellington Mk.X, XI, XVII
Primary Role:
 Medium bomber for RAF, FAA duties included ASV training, fighter affiliation
First Flight: 
 Prototype 15.6.1936
Date operating with FAA squadrons:
 1942-1946
Manufacturer:
 Vickers
Engine:
 Mk I - two Bristol Pegasus 
Mk X, XI, XVII - two 1675 hp Bristol Hercules engines
Mk II - two Rolls-Royce Merlin 
 Wing Span: Length: Height: Wing Area: 
 Wingspan 86.2 ft (26.26 m) 
Length 64.6 ft (19.68 m) 
Height17 ft (5.17 m) 
Wing area 840 sq ft (78.04 sq m)
Empty Weight: Max.Weight:
 Weight
empty 26,323 lb (11,940 kg) 
max. 36,500 lb (16,556 kg)
Speed: 

Ceiling: 

Range:

 Speed 255 mph (410 km/h) 
Initial climb rate  1,050 ft/min (320 m/min)
Ceiling 22,000 ft (6,710 m) 
Range  2,200 mi (3,540 km)
Armament: 
 Eight 7.7mm machine gun; 2,014 kg bombs
Crew:
 6
Squadrons:
 716, 785, 762, 765, 782 and 783 , 765
Battle honours:
 None with FAA
Additional references and notes:
 -

Battle Honours and Operational History
None with FAA

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Surviving aircraft and relics

The Wellington is now extremely rare with only two extant examples in the World, one at the RAF Museum (UK) and the other at the Brooklands Museum (UK).

RAF Museum Hendon: Wellington T.10 MF628
 


The Brooklands Wellington MkI wreck resurface in Scotland

Associations and reunions
No information
 
FURTHER INFORMATION
  
Wellington profiles  General information profiles in 1939-1945.
Olivier warbirds, Le site sur l'aviation de la Seconde guerre mondiale  Details of the Wellington [in french]
Sturtivant, R. & Burrow, M (1995) 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945'  Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995 ISBN: 085130 232 7 
Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000
 

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