History of the Wellington
Bomber in Art prints. The Vickers
Wellington. Royal Air Force Vickers Wellington Bomber aircraft in aviation art prints by leading aviation
artists Ivan Berryman, Gerald Coulson, Anthony Saunders and Robert Taylor.
Vickers Wellington prints directly available only from Cranston Fine
Arts the Aviation and Military art print Company
The Loch Ness Wellington by Ivan Berryman.
R-Robert was dramatically retrieved after nearly forty years on the bed of Loch Ness in Scotland. It is being restored at the Brooklands Museum.
Item Code : B0013
The Loch Ness Wellington by Ivan Berryman. - Editions Available
When it entered service in 1938, the twin-engined Vickers Wellington began an operational career that spanned the whole of the Second World War. Rugged and reliable, it was operated by Bomber Command, Coastal Command and Transport Command, possessing a level of versatility second to none, serving in almost every theatre of War. By the autumn of 1945 nearly 11,500 had been built. As the last one rolled off the Vickers production lines, the Wimpy as it was affectionately known, had secured its place in history, as one of the truly great aircraft of the Second World War
Wellington Mk X Bombers from 104 Squadron Royal Air Force based at Foggia in Italy make a night raid on the Messerschmitt factory at Steyr in Austria on 24/25th February 1944. The raid was by way of a follow-up to the USAAF daylight raid of earlier that day which left the factory badly damaged. Of the 36 Wellingtons that took off from Foggia, only these two found the target. Others, using captured Italian maps later found to be in error, were unable to navigate accurately. Six aircraft were lost in the Alps through flying into mountains where their captured maps indicated incorrect heights. The depicted aircraft, flown by Canadian Flg Off Fred Ashbaugh and navigated by the late Flg Off Dennis Wilburn, returned safely to Foggia after the successful mission.
Soon to be cloaked in darkness, Wellington aircraft of 150 Squadron, RAF Newton, Nottinghamshire, prepare for another dangerous mission, never knowing if they would return.
Item Code : DHM2241
Final Preparations by Philip West. - Editions Available
On 18th December 1939, a force of Wellington bombers attacked naval targets on the German coast. On the return journey, they were attacked by enemy fighters, for over half an hour, bringing down 7 of the 22 Wellingtons. A further 5 would be forced to crash land in England. One of the surviving aircraft was flown by Sergeant Frank Petts who, in a futile attempt to shake off his attacker, dived to sea level. Despite sustaining considerable damage and with two of his crew wounded, he brought the bomber safely home. The experience of the raid forced the RAF to switch to night-time sorties, bombers were clearly too vulnerable without fighter escort. Six months later, during the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe would learn the same lesson.
Item Code : LE0627
A Hard Lesson to Learn by Adrian Rigby. - Editions Available
The Vickers-Armstrong Wellington entered service life in the RAF in 1938 as a medium bomber. As the mainstay of the Bomber Command, it bore the initial brunt of the RAFs night offensive during 1940. Without the benefit of sophisticated navigation aids, the bomber crews had difficulty locating and hitting targets and also contending with rapidly improving German defences. The picture depicts an incident at sunrise on the morning of 26th July 1940. A Wellington 1c of 99 Squadron, based at Newmarket Heath, returns from a raid over Dortmund. An engine fails over the North Sea and the aircraft, captained by Squadron Leader Sarll, struggled almost to its home base and crashed just south of Cambridge. The crew survived.
Heligoland, German coast, 18th December 1939. Johannes Macky Steinhoff attacking Vickers Wellington bombers of No.37 Sqn. A raiding force of 22 RAF Wellington Ia bombers from 9, 37 and 149 squadrons was intercepted by some 60 Me109 and Me110s. First to engage were 6 Me109Ds from Oberleutnant Johannes Macki Steinhoff 's NG26's experimental night fighter staffel. In the running battle that followed Steinhoff and Feldwebel Szuggar claimed 1 bomber each. It was a disasterous day for the RAF with a total of 12 aircraft being shot down and another 6 crash landing on their return to England.
Item Code : DP0197
Battle of the Bight by David Pentland. (P) - Editions Available
On 4th September 1939, fourteen Wellington aircraft from Nos. 9 and 149 Squadrons attacked the entrance to the Kiel Canal at Brunsbüttel, the first raid of the war. Two of the aircraft of No.9 Sqn were lost with all crew members. These were L4268 and L4275 KA-H, the first aircraft shot down on the western front.
Item Code : DHM6141
Our First Reply by Chris Golds. - Editions Available
The Vickers Wellington was a Bomber aircraft
and also used for maritime reconnaissance. and had a normal crew
of six except in 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), normal
operating range of 1805 miles (except MK III which was 1470miles)
The
Wellington or Wimpy as it was known, was the major bomber of the Royal Air
Force between 1939 and 1943. The Royal Air Force received its first
Wellingtons in October 1938 to 99 squadron. and by the outbreak of
World war two there were 6squadrons equipped with the Vickers
Wellington. Due to heavy loosed on daylight raids, the Wellington
became a night bomber and from 1940 was also used as a long range bomber
in North Africa. and in 1942 also became a long range bomber for the
royal Air Force in India. It was well used by Coastal Command as a U-Boat
Hunter. The Wellington remained in service with the Royal Air Force until
1953. Probably due to its versatile use, The aircraft was also used
for experimental work including the fitting of a pressure cabin for High
altitude tests. The Vickers Wellington could sustain major damage
and still fly, probably due to its construction of its geodesic structure
and practical application of geodesic lines. Designed by Sir Barnes
Wallis
The Loch Ness Wellington by Ivan Berryman R-Robert was dramatically retrieved after nearly
forty years on the bed of Loch Ness in Scotland. It is being restored at
the Brooklands Museum. The print is signed not only by the artists but
also an original designer of the original aircraft, a former pilot of
R-Robert and three other prominent personnel in the restoring of this
Wellington.
Encore by Steve Gibbs
Wellington Mk X Bombers from 104 Squadron Royal Air Force based at
Foggia in Italy make a night raid on the Messerschmitt factory at Steyr in
Austria on 24/25th February 1944. The raid was by way of a follow-up
to the USAAF daylight raid of earlier that day which left the factory
badly damaged. Of the 36 Wellingtons that took off from Foggia, only
these two found the target. Others, using captured Italian maps
later found to be in error, were unable to navigate accurately. Six
aircraft were lost in the Alps through flying into mountains where their
captured maps indicated incorrect heights. The depicted aircraft, flown by
Canadian Flg Off Fred Ashbaugh and navigated by the late Flg Off Dennis
Wilburn, returned safely to Foggia after the successful mission.
A Hard Lesson to Learn by Adrian Rigby This Wellington Bomber survived an attack by enemy fighters as it
returned from the German Coast.
Final Preparations by Philip West Soon to be cloaked in darkness, Wellington aircraft of 150 Squadron,
RAF Newton, Nottinghamshire, prepare for another dangerous mission, never
knowing if they would return.
Overdue by Gerald Coulson The Vickers-Armstrong Wellington entered service life in the RAF in
1938 as a medium bomber. As the mainstay of the Bomber Command, it bore
the initial brunt of the RAF's night offensive during 1940. Without the
benefit of sophisticated navigation aids, the bomber crews had difficulty
locating and hitting targets and also contending with rapidly improving
German defences.
