Vickers-Armstrong Wellington

The Wellington took part in the first action by RAF Bomber Command against a German target on 4^th September 1939, attacking German shipping at Brunsbuttel.  Wellingtons were also involved against the first raid on Berlin that took place on the night of 25^th August 1940, and Wellingtons were involved in the first 1000 bomber raid carried out by the RAF on Cologne on 30^th May 1942.

The Wellington, although attributed to R K Pearson, chief designer of Vickers-Armstrong at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, owes more to the design input of Barnes Wallis.  The ‘geodedic’ construction of the fuselage was the brainchild of Barnes Wallis and developed from the type of construction used for the R100 airship.  The R100 was a private venture that proved more successful than the Air Ministry led R101 venture (both airships were based at the Cardington sheds for flight testing prior to respective maiden voyages).   The geodedic construction of the fuselage consisted of a lattice work of aluminium alloy to which was attached wooden battens.  The whole was covered in Irish linen that was then given several coats of dope (a solvent that shrinks the covering and results in an air and waterproof finish).  The design was both lightweight and incredibly strong, and the aircraft could sustain considerable battle damage and still retain the ability to remain airborne.  Many wartime aircrews were able to return to base with battle damage that would have rendered other aircraft un-flyable. 

The prototype first flew on 15^th June 1936 but was known as the Vickers Armstrong Crecy.  It was shortly re-named the Wellington and entered service with the RAF in October 1938.  The Wellington was nicknamed the ‘Wimpey’ by aircrews after J Wellington Wimpey of the Popeye cartoons, and was the only RAF bomber to be in production for the whole period of World War II.  By 1945 a total of over 11400 had been produced.

Some digressions;

Captain Joseph Summers

The Wellington test flight in June 1936 was piloted by Captain Joseph ‘Mutt’ Summers – the same Mutt Summers that carried out the first test flight of the Supermarine Spitfire on 5^th March 1936.  Mutt Summers also piloted the Wellington that was used to test the Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb at Chesil Beach near Portland in Dorset.

Barnes (later Sir Barnes) Wallis

Barnes Wallis went on to design the bouncing bomb of Dambusters fame that was used to bomb the Ruhr dams in May 1943.  He also designed the 10 Ton Earthquake bombs used by the RAF to destroy German bunkers and underground installations.  By the 1950’s Barnes Wallis (now Sir Barnes Wallis) was involved with variable geometry or what is commonly known as ‘swing wing’ design, and developed an advanced jet engined swing wing design known as the Swallow.  The government of the time showed little interest in the possibilities of this research, and Sir Barnes turned to the USA to try and gain some financial backing.  The USA did not offer any finances but took all of the research and went on to produce the F-111 fighter bomber.  The USA at this time was actively experimenting with swing wing technology, and the research material provided by Sir Barnes must have proved invaluable.

The Wellington Berlin raid on 25th August 1940

 Although this raid was ineffectual in terms of damage to enemy installations, the consequences would have an immediate effect on the outcome of the Battle of Britain.

When the Battle of Britain got under way in July 1940 the German raids predominantly targeted the following; channel convoys, RDF (radar) installations, aircraft factories and RAF bases.  At this time Hitler had not given any authority to target London, and had been convinced by Goering that the Luftwaffe would soon destroy the RAF.  By mid August 1940 the RAF continued to inflict heavy losses on the Luftwaffe, but constant damage to the main airfields and the mounting losses of experienced pilots was taking a serious toll.  Aircraft production was increasing owing to the decision to move the main production away from the south and into areas such as ex-automotive factories in Birmingham and Oxford.  The real problem was shortage of sufficiently trained pilots and the ability of the forward airfields to operate under constant attack.

Prior to 25^th of August a Luftwaffe night raid became lost and decided to jettison bombs in what was thought to be open country.  They were in fact over the London suburbs, resulting in civilian casualties.  Churchill ordered an immediate reprisal raid on Berlin, and the leader of the German raid was also summoned to Berlin to explain why London was bombed.  The RAF raid took place on 25^th August 1940, and Hitler immediately ordered an all out assault on London.  These massed raids commenced on 7^th September 1940.

From a tactical viewpoint this was a gift to the RAF.  Not only did the German fighter escorts only have sufficient fuel for 10 minutes over the capital, but attacking London brought the Luftwaffe within range of the 12 Group airfields based north and east of the capital.  Attacking London also gave the RAF more time to manoeuvre greater numbers of fighters into an advantageous position to attack the main body of bombers.  The massed raids would be harried by RAF attacks from the moment they crossed the channel coast, and then be confronted by several squadrons of RAF fighters over the capital.  The RAF sector airfields and infrastructure that were no longer under attack were able to quickly recover, and the defending fighters achieved their greatest success on Sunday 15^th September, the day now commemorated as Battle of Britain Day.  The Luftwaffe, faced with an alarming increase in aircraft and aircrew losses were not able to maintain the massed daylight assaults, and reverted to night bombing that became known as the Blitz.   By October 1940 massed daylight raids were over and the danger of imminent invasion receded.

The book entitled The Narrow Margin is probably the most definitive work on this momentous period in our history, and clearly defines just how close we came to losing the battle, and enabling a full invasion of this country to take place.  There are many factors that contributed to our eventual victory.  The bravery and determination of our fighter pilots, the superiority of the Spitfire and Hurricane, improving aircraft production, coupled with the vastly superior RAF system of command and control utilising radar and sector control of the day fighters were key contributors to eventual victory.  But in late August 1940 the combined affects of pilot losses, debilitating exhaustion and constant disruption to forward airfields and control infrastructure was beginning to seriously affect the ability of the RAF to maintain an effective defence.

The sudden political decision by the German high command to turn on London was a clear tactical blunder.  The Wellington crews that took part in that Berlin raid did not realise that the escalating tit for tat bombing of the respective capital cities would eventually work in our favour, and play a crucial part in probably the greatest victory of World War II.

Wellington Survivors

 There are two complete airframes in the UK.  One is located at the Brooklands museum and the RAF museum example is now at RAF Cosford where a five year restoration to the covering is underway.