Ratch Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 (edited) No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden. While flying night circuits and landings with a Canadian instructor pilot, their aircraft, Wellington BJ622, JP-R, crashed just after half-past midnight, on the night of 11/12th of July. ”12/07/1944: Wellington III, serial no. BJ622 of 12 OTU belly landed at Chipping Warden. Sgt J C Ridley RCAF and crew were unhurt.” This is the Airfix 1959 tool, 1/72 04001 with: Etch – none Additional parts – none Paints – Humbrol, Vallejo Panzer Aces and Vallejo Model Color acrylics by brush Decals – Xtradecal, E. D. Models, Airfix Edited March 13, 2020 by Ratch 35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Joyce Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 Nice build and in-flight display. Now if you can only get those props to spin!😉 Cheers, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 I haven't seen one of those built for a long time. Did it myself in about 1971. Nice to see an old friend after such a long gap. Yours is better than mine was... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Niiiice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 Thanks for the feedback guys, its appreciated 🍻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Animal Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Nice one. Great photography too. At first glance I thought the first shot was real and mistook the stand for a distant searchlight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wince Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 Wowee that is one nice wimpey there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 16 hours ago, Putty Animal said: At first glance I thought the first shot was real and mistook the stand for a distant searchlight. I see what you mean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Very nice and tidy one Ratch !! One more proof that an old kit can be turned in a gem !! Sincerely. CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Superb build and finish Ratch.Great to see such finesse on an oldie like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 That's very kind of you Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 On 1/21/2020 at 8:10 AM, Putty Animal said: At first glance I thought the first shot was real and mistook the stand for a distant searchlight. Yes, me too! It has the slightly blurred look of contemporary film footage, which completely fooled me! Your model really does look the part. Congratulations! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 Thanks all. here's another: Date: 8 Jul 1943 Unit: 17 OTU Type: Wellington III Serial No.: X3934 Operation: Training Take Off: RAF Silverstone Crew: F/O G Chambers killed Sgt F E Harrison killed P/O J A Jackson killed Sgt I G Jones killed Description: Took off at 15:47 from RAF Silverstone but stalled three minutes later and crashed and burnt. Court of Inquiry: Cause apparently due to stalling. No mechanical evidence can be observed with wreckage in present position. This was the unit’s first major accident since giving up its Blenheims in favour of Wellingtons. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Top work Ratch...you got the stand the correct round in the second one too🤔😃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 Thanks, I always thought the position of the stand was interchangeable, depending upon the centre of gravity of the model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 9 minutes ago, Ratch said: Thanks, I always thought the position of the stand was interchangeable, depending upon the centre of gravity of the model Lol I think you can do actually what you like 🤔😃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Two nice builds, well displayed. Nice work! J. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 Thanks Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselweasel Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Two really nice Wimpeys Ratch, whats next on the bench.!!! ATB Jim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Very evocative. The poor old Wimpey killed a lot of RAF aircrew right up to the fifties. So many young men dying in training. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted March 14, 2020 Author Share Posted March 14, 2020 Cheers Jim and Noel One more to come, maybe later today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted March 14, 2020 Author Share Posted March 14, 2020 (edited) My final Wimpey is BK157, FQ-A of No. 12 Operational Training Unit, RAF Chipping Warden Shortly before 1100 on 31st May 1944 a Vickers Wellington bomber plunged into the ground with the loss of seven aircrew. The aircraft that came to grief that day, serial no BK157, was from 12 Operational Training unit, one of many units formed, in April 1940, to train aircrews for Bomber Command. In July 1941 the unit moved to RAF Chipping Warden, which was to become its permanent home for the rest of the war. By July 1943 12 OTU had re-equipped with Wellington MkIII's withdrawn from front line service. One of the pilots who had been posted to Chipping Warden was Flying Officer Donald Arthur Driver. Although only 20 years old he had already completed a tour of duty with 104 squadron and been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. The squadron had been operating in the Western desert flying Wellington MkIIs, moving west behind the advancing armies. At the end of 1943 the squadron moved into Southern Italy from where it carried out raids on the Balkans and Northern Italy. He was awarded the DFM on the 9th July 1943, whilst a Sergeant pilot. His citation reads: Quote This NCO pilot has flown 43 bombing operations including targets in Sicily and Tunisia. Throughout, he has shown great determination and zeal in bombing targets and, on four separate occasions, has descended to ground level to attack searchlights batteries and concentrations of motor transport and troops. On one occasion during an attack on Tunis docks, despite heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire, Sergeant Driver pressed home his attack with such effectiveness as to score a direct hit on an enemy tanker. Special tasks have been consistently given to Sergeant Driver who has always carried them out with a daring mixed with good judgement which has ensured their complete success. He has proved himself to be an inspiring and competent bomber captain. At 1005 on the 31st May 1944 Flying Officer Driver took off from RAF Chipping Warden in Wellington MkIII serial no BK157 to carry out a fighter affiliation exercise. This sortie involved trainee air gunners firing with cine-camera guns at an attacking fighter whilst supervised by experienced or "screened" gunners during which the pilot would carry out evasive manoeuvres to simulate real combat conditions. They were to rendezvous with a Hawker Hurricane from 12 OTU target and gunnery flight based at RAF Edgehill. At about 1045 the pilot put the aircraft into an evasive diving turn. This would seem to have been too much for the war weary aircraft, it had flown 677.45 hours since being taken on charge in December 1942 and caused the port wing to collapse. The wing landed in the Mill Field in Lower Tadmarton whilst the rest of the Wellington, leaving a mile-long wreckage trail, narrowly missing cottages that were opposite Brookfields, plunged into the ground and burst into flames killing all aboard. The crash site was littered with wreckage and body parts, a harrowing scene witnessed by several children. Edited March 14, 2020 by Ratch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now