Wingleader Publications Westland Whirlwind in WWII (Photo Archive #19)

[Mike]

Westland Whirlwind in WWII (Photo Archive #19)

Wingleader Publications

 

 

The Whirlwind came about due to the Air Ministry’s concerns about fighters armed with rifle-calibre machine guns not being able to inflict enough damage on enemy aircraft as airspeed increased, leaving only fractions of a second to put enough rounds downrange before they were past the target.  A number of designs were proposed, some based upon development of existing airframes, but Westland had put a great deal of work into what was to become the Whirlwind already, and with twin engines, excellent all-round vision for the pilot and the concentration of four 20mm cannons in the nose, it soon became a favourite, and an initial order of 400 was made.  Unfortunately, it was to use the Rolls-Royce Peregrine engine, which was subject to protracted problems that led to serious delays bringing it into service that kept the initial batch from the front until it had become less of an impressive aircraft when compared to its contemporaries such as the cannon-armed Spitfires and Beaufighter.

 

There were conflicting opinions of the type from various parties, some calling it disappointing, others finding it to be a highly capable aircraft.  The pilots that flew Whirlwinds regularly were generally impressed, and appreciated its ruggedness, the “spare” engine that made it more likely you’d get home if one was damaged, and the heavy firepower it possessed without the need for setting convergence as with many other aircraft with wing mounted armament.  Emergency landings were also relatively safe (as far as they go), thanks to the low wing mounting and the fact that the engine nacelles acted as skids, preventing the nose from digging in and going over.  Because of the delays only three squadrons flew the type, and it remained in service until 1943 in a relatively unmodified form, apart from the wiring closed of the leading-edge slats that weren’t much use and became a liability if they malfunctioned.  It was mostly used for “Rhubarb” forays into occupied Europe and as a ground-attack fighter, where it performed well in terms of destructive capabilities, and thanks to the low-level capabilities of the Peregrine engines it could hold its own against the Bf.109s of the time, but once the Peregrine was cancelled it was decided to end development, as retro-fitting Merlins was considered to be too difficult, and the wings also had their own issues that would need to be resolved in a hypothetical future version.

 

 

The Book

This nineteenth volume in the series covers the Whirlwind from start to finish, beginning with the prototypes and showing how these developed into in-service airframes, how they were used in pursuit of the British war effort, and the issues that arose that eventually led to their being withdrawn from active service after it was decided that the Merlin engine wasn’t the panacea that it was to many other aircraft.  On its way through the war it provided its crews with a powerful weapon, adding bombs to its repertoire in due course that improved its destructive capabilities against ground targets.  Interleaved between the pages of photos are sheets devoted to a particular example of the type, pointing out parts and colours specific to that individual airframe that will assist the modeller, as well as points of conjecture where appropriate.  The photo pages are filled with large crisp pictures within the constraints of the original medium, and as usual there are interesting captions that are sometimes accompanied by arrows or letters to help the reader identify the subject in question, whether it is a peculiar blister on the top of the fuselage, or the photo-camera under the belly.

 

 

 

Some of the photos are staged of course, but there are also a large number of candid shots, a few of which are in colour, and some are of battle-damaged and weather-beaten aircraft, one lying flopped halfway into a ditch on the edge of the airfield after a less-than-successful landing, showing that its nose-cone was indeed easily removed, held on with only one bolt.  The photos of the pilots who flew these aircraft and were subsequently lost in later sorties is particularly poignant, as is the tangled mess of Whirlwind parts on the airfield, although this has a happier ending, the pilot escaping almost unharmed after his aircraft was flipped by a sudden vicious cross-wind.

 

 

 

A visually impressive book with plenty of reading material into the bargain that will have you coming back to it again and again, especially if you have more than one kit in your stash.  I can see myself becoming a firm adherent to this series of photo books, waiting patiently(ish) as they are published. 

 

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of