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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Jeffrey on Thursday 26 November 15 10:01 GMT (UK)
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Would be grateful if anyone can identify these two planes please.
The photos were taken in the Middle East during WWII
Thank you
Judy
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Top plane looks like a Wellington bomber, bottom plane is a Bristol Beaufighter.
Michael.
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Would agree - top one a Vickers Wellington, the lower one a Beaufighter (although less convinced about that)
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Vickers Wellington equipped with Radar. Possibly No. 38 Squadron RAF.
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Beaufighter looks to be in N Africa. That protrusion on top of fuselage no doubt points to the variant although I don't know what it is.
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The protrusion is an aerial mast, wire ran from the mast to the tail.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cunningham_%28RAF_officer%29#/media/File:Bristol_Beaufighter_AL-61A.jpg
Regards
Malky
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Thank you very much for the replies. That is really good.
We thought one of them was the Wellington but needed confirmation. The other we thought was possibly a Beaufort but now through your posts think you are right and it is a Beaufighter.
Yes in North Africa.
Your replies appreciated - thank you very much.
I have one more which I will post in a new post - much harder as it is only the engine!!
Judy
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The Beaufighter seems to have a direction finder under a cover just in front of the aerial post and just above the cockpit.
Jon
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Thank you. We wondered what that was.
Judy
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Yes and Yes but Beaufighter has observers cowl installed before the mast which has blown perspex front and smaller windows each side . An aid to navigation in featureless landscapes particularly at night , like deserts etc and additional side view when attacked , as visibility was very poor from the cockpit as the photo clearly shows and prone to attack from side on and rear. As with most early British aircraft the pilots did a great job with equipment totally unsuitable for the purpose to which they were put , many designs being hastily adapted from commercial aircraft designed for executive and news media coverage , mail and freight . The Wellington was the main bomber early on and more of these were built than any other aircraft and much liked by crews as it was extremely rugged due to its geodetic frame design (bullets and shrapnel would pass through the fuselage without ricocheting around inside injuring the crew and it is said that as much as 30% of the fuselage and one engine could be lost to flak and still bring the crew home ) .It could be built in 24 hrs ,but lacked the power ,altitude and payload capabilities required by bomber command even after upgrading , soon to be replaced by the Halifax , Manchester and then Lancaster heavy , relegated to other duties (coastal command) and then scrapped as it had no post war role . A very poor tribute to the brave crews that flew and maintained these great aircraft and its designer Barnes Wallis . I believe there is one still taxiing ' The Widowmaker' built from spares . Whereabouts unknown . The 24 hour Wellington film was made by the BBC and is probably on the net now , if you are interested . I think I saw it on All Our Yesterday's about 50 years ago !
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FAHR451 Thank you for all the information.
Didn't realize the Wellington was designed by Barnes-Wallis.
If anyone is interested I have posted the engines in which my father-in-law was proficient as per his official RAF Records on the posting below.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=736035.new#new
Thanks again for all the help
Judy
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There are two complete Wellingtons in England, Vickers 408 Wellington Mk1A N2980 (which was recovered from Loch Ness) at Brooklands Museum and a T10 which is normally in the Bomber Hall at Hendon RAF Museum but is currently being renovated at their Cosford facility.
Michael.
Added: because these photos belonged to Jeffrey's father he may even be the person in the Wellington cockpit looking out of the sliding window.