Korcz, Grzegorz Vickers Wellington I & II. Part 1

Volume 41 of the Polish Wings series. The medium-range twin-engine bomber Vickers Wellington was considered the real workhorse of RAF Bomber Command in the early stages of the Second World War. Between 1939 and 1942, alongside the Handley Page Hampden and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, it was primarily the Wellington that bore the brunt of the RAF's growing bombing offensive against the Third Reich. The type also served in Coastal Command units in the fight against U-boats and enemy ships and was used extensively for training RAF bomber crews. Production continued until October 1945, with a total of 11,462 aircraft built. The Wellington also became the backbone of all four Polish bomber squadrons 300th, 301st, 304th and 305th as well as the OTU training centres where Polish crews gained their combat skills. This volume of the Polish Wings series presents the history of the Vickers Wellington bombers in versions Ic and II in service with the Polish Air Force in exile between 1940 and 1942. The first part deals with Squadrons No. 300 and 301 as well as the 18th OTU, while the second part describes the combat missions of Squadrons No. 304 and 305.