Napier, Michael/Swiatlon, Janusz (Illustr.) Vickers Wellington Units of Bomber Command

The Vickers "Wellington" was one of very few aircraft types to have been in production and frontline service throughout World War II, and more than 10000 "Wellingtons" were built in the period. They took part in the first RAF bombing mission of the conflict when, on 4 September 1939, 14 examples from Nos 9 and 149 Sqns undertook a daring daylight attack on the Kiel Canal. However, after suffering high losses on follow-up raids, "Wellingtons" were withdrawn from daytime missions and began to operate at night from May 1940. They subsequently took part in raids against the Italian port city of Genoa in July 1940, and against Berlin the following month, followed by key missions in the "Battle of the Barges" in September and October, as the RAF targeted the Germany's invasion fleet being assembled in French Channel ports. When RAF's strike force expanded the next year following the introduction of the improved "Wellington" II, the 21 squadrons equipped with the Vickers aircraft, which included Polish-, Canadian- and Australian-manned units, formed the backbone of the Bomber Command night bombing force. Over the next two years "Wellingtons" participated in all the major operations by Bomber Command, including the daylight raid against German battleships in Brest harbour in July 1942 and the first three "Thousand Bomber" raids in the summer of 1942. This illustrated study explores the design, development, and deployment of the Vickers "Wellington" type, charting its role in World War II from its earliest missions to its use in training after its withdrawal from frontline bomber missions in 1943. The text is supported by stunning full-colour artwork

This illustrated study takes an in-depth look at the design, development and use of the Vickers "Wellington" bomber and shows its role in World War II from its first missions in 1939 to its use as a training aircraft from 1943, when this type of bomber was withdrawn from active front-line service.