WWII War Birds - pics and video

Vickers Wellington.

Prototype:

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Last one built 13 October 1945. Barnes Wallis engineered 'em sturdy:

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Damage to Vickers Wellington Mark X, HE239 'NA-Y', of No. 428 Squadron RCAF based at Dalton, Yorkshire, resulting from a direct hit from anti-aircraft gun fire while approaching to bomb Duisburg, Germany on the night of 8/9 April 1943. Despite the loss of the rear turret and its gunner, as well as other extensive damage, the pilot, Sergeant L F Williamson, continued to bomb the target, following which it was found that the bomb doors could not be closed because of a complete loss of hydraulic power. Williamson nevertheless brought HE239 and the remainder of his crew back for a safe landing at West Malling, Kent, where this photograph was taken.
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Ganderite said:
Wellington did not have a tail gunner. Made for easy pickins.
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The Wellington most certainly had a tail gunner in a power turret.



My Uncle flew Wellingtons in England as well as a tour in North Africa bombing Italy. Also had a neighbor that lived across the street that flew Wellingtons then transitioned later to flying the Lancaster.

Jim
 


At the Brooklands Museum in Surrey a Wimpy under reconstruction.
More Wellington tail turrets. This time the real thing and not a sim. The early Frazer-Nash turrets were fitted with two 303s and later some had a quartet .
Ganderite , you are right about some versions of the GR aircraft that were the maritime reconnaissance a/c and the Warwick transports, a development from the Wellington.
 

Another Wallis creation from Vickers-Armstrong - the Wellesley. Still holds the record for the longest non-stop flight by a single piston engine a/c over 11,500km Egypt to Darwin Australia by 3 Wellesleys of the RAF Long Range Development Unit(LRDU). Shares the same geodesic construction but was obsolete before WWII started so was relegated to less prominent roles in the Mid-East and maritime patrol. The tubs at midwing were the bomb bays.
 
I knew a fellow that flew one of those Wellesley Angels as he used to call it. Yes it was slow but it was also extremely forgiving and had incredible flight characteristics. He told me that he once had an engine seize in mid flight about 20 miles from their base in Egypt. He was over the Mediterranean for most of the distance and the glide aspect was so good that even at a moderate height they glided back until he could land it on the beach only a few miles from their base.

He also told me they were pure hell on submarines but useless in air to air combat because they were so slow. Their best defense was to get as close to the deck as possible and try to disappear against the background. He also claimed they could take an incredible amount of damage without going down. He told me he was lucky in that his plane was used as a patrol craft because many of them were relegated to flying a passenger or more often cargo, often into delicate locations. Short landing and take off were possible because of the huge wing surfaces. He also mentioned how smooth/quiet they were, with little or no vibration felt from the engine.
 
^ Nice!

My cousin is working on a Hurricane restoration right now actually.



Here's the Tank Buster model from Vintage Wings of Canada a couple years ago at the Airshow in Miramichi.
 
the tank buster had 2 40mm Vickers s in pods beneath the wings and 2 303s- that's just a standard 20mm config
 
Even the B17 was up-gunned a few times. 20 and 30mm cannons really shreded the bombers.


I see some pilots knock out the tail gunner first, then belly gun, then shot at the engines.
 
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diopter said:
Even the B17 was up-gunned a few times. 20 and 30mm cannons really shreded the bombers.


I see some pilots knock out the tail gunner first, then belly gun, then shot at the engines.
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Standard procedure for bomber intercepts was a tail attack using a pursuit curve method to bring ones guns to bear at least twice in a single attack. However, it would take an exceptional pilot with superb aerial marksmanship to bring a bomber down in a single pass. With the box formations of the B-17s the defensive fire was impressive and horrendous. Luftwaffe pilots soon realized the head on attack in spite of a fleeting opprtunity with high combined approach speeds increased their success and survivability.
Enter the YB-40 with up to 10 extra 50cal M2 Brownings.

A development of the B-17F prior to long range Mustangs. Performance was terrible as it couldn't keep up with the bombers once they had released their bombs. After a handful of missions it was removed from service. It did however give rise to the B-17G which retained some of the extra defensive guns (chin turret and improved waist gun positions).
 
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