What do we know about the Wellington MkII?

[Carl V]

Hello, Heather:

1.            Regarding your interest in the Wellington II, the only material that I have in any quantity concerns its use by 405 Squadron, RCAF. As the squadron's use of this model was from May 1941 to April 1942, this places it somewhat beyond your main historical focus, but it is possible that what I have may prove of some value and/or assistance to you.

2.            Somewhat over four decades ago, my magazine High Flight, of which you have probably (and understandably) never heard, published an article by my colleague Heather Ebbs entitled "405 and the Merlin Wimpy." It was a fairly substantial effort – 10 pages, 13 photos, drawings, operations record, airframe histories while with the squadron.

3.            The article seems a little massive for posting. However, should you wish, if you could provide me with an email address, I will send you a scan of the article. Furthermore, if you would like, I can provide the photographs at a somewhat higher resolution than they appear in the magazine.

4.            The same applies to anybody else out there. Ask, and I will fire it off to you ASAP.

Carl

 

[Heather Kay]

22 minutes ago, Carl V said:

The same applies to anybody else out there. Ask, and I will fire it off to you ASAP.

Carl, that is much appreciated. PM inbound.

 

As you say, the RCAF operation of the MkII is a little late for my period, but photos are always useful - especially for the relatively camera-shy Merlin Wimpey. 

[Dave Fleming]

2 hours ago, rossm said:

Here's the page from Wellington Squadrons in Focus

 

Same book has some pictures of the 12 Squadron ones as well - I hadn't appreciated that 12 only operated merlin engine aircraft (Battle, Wellington II, Lancaster)

[GrzeM]

 

One of those Polish ones.

[PatG]

Although it doesn't help in terms of any pics of a Mk.II during 1940 I can heartedly recommend the 4+ book on the Wellington as it contains a wealth of information that you may find useful, including some scale plans that show the Mk.II as well.

 

Normally hard to find and quite pricey but there is one for sale at the moment on Amazon (2nd hand) for less than £10 so a bit of a bargain!

 

HTH.

 

Kind Regards

Pat.

[Andy Marden]

15 hours ago, GrzeM said:

 

One of those Polish ones.

Is the serial of this one known?  I can't quite make it out.

[Dave Fleming]

1 hour ago, Andy Marden said:

Is the serial of this one known?  I can't quite make it out.

W5590

[Dave Fleming]

It;s interesting just how long the mk IIs were in service

[JWM]

 

How long? In Polish Squadrom 305 it was a year

 

On 5/9/2025 at 9:37 AM, JWM said:

Then, of Polish bombers squadrons on RAF only  the 305 Squadron was equipped with Mk IIs for one year - July 1941-August 1942 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._305_Polish_Bomber_Squadron

 

2 hours ago, Dave Fleming said:

It;s interesting just how long the mk IIs were in service

 

[Dave Fleming]

6 hours ago, JWM said:

 

How long? In Polish Squadrom 305 it was a year

 

 

 

From late 1940 to at least late 1942 

[tempestfan]

On 5/12/2025 at 11:48 PM, PatG said:

Although it doesn't help in terms of any pics of a Mk.II during 1940 I can heartedly recommend the 4+ book on the Wellington as it contains a wealth of information that you may find useful, including some scale plans that show the Mk.II as well.

 

Normally hard to find and quite pricey but there is one for sale at the moment on Amazon (2nd hand) for less than £10 so a bit of a bargain!

 

HTH.

 

Kind Regards

Pat.

Thanks for the tip-off 🙂 Even though ordering with A. from abroad becomes ever more cumbersome - had to add a credit card that was already shown, had to pay a "conversion rate guarantee fee" or somesuch... It's really pretty strange how WoB works, the book was not listed on their own site, and @ factor 2.5 on abe, which is also an A. site...

I am quite a fan of 4+, a pity they have stopped doing anything new some 15 years ago.

[PatG]

Just to say that now on Amazon they are selling the 4+ book (used) for over £53 so the one I found turned out to be a real bargain, especially on Amazon!

 

I knew that less than £10 was a silly low price so hopefully someone has taken advantage as it really is an excellent book and it is sad that 4+ no longer seem to be producing their excellent treatments of various aircraft.

 

Kind Regards

Pat.

[tempestfan]

12 minutes ago, PatG said:

hopefully someone has taken advantage 

Yes, I did!

[PatG]

Wonderful! 😁

 

Kind Regards

Pat.