311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Hi,
I am looking to make a specific Czech Squadron Wellington "C o KX" from 311 Sqn based in England from Tally Ho's decal sheet #8039:
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=TY48039
It is the top aircraft in the link.
The problem is the description says it is a MkIc, but it appears to have the fuselage sides with far fewer windows which, i thought, was more consistent with a MkIII.
Does anyone know for sure which aircraft this was, and whether or not it had any particular features?
Any help much appreciated.
Kind egards,
Nicholas

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

The side windows are not specific to type. The Mk.III will have had the four-gun tail turret and Hercules engines.

I believe - but it needs checking - that the Rxxxx serial block are Mk.1s.

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

graham,

many thanks for this - i suppose that makes sense.

now one more question: are the Hercules engines visibly different? I already have the Trumpeter Mk.III kit (few windows), but obviously this may have the wrong engines.
A kit bash is going to be expensive!

Kind regards,

nick

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

The Pegasus is a single-row engine, the Hercules a double row. The engine cowlings do look different, if you look at them, though perhaps not as much as might be expected.

The lack of a two-gun rear turret might be a problem for you.

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Hi Nicholas!

311st Squadron RAF was not "Czech" squadron! It was "CZECHOSLOVAK" squadron!
Thanks!

Milan

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Nicholas,

The 311 Sqn was not using the Mark III version. It had IA, IC and X Wellingtons in possession during 1940-43 period.

Regards,
Michal

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Milan,

Slip of the tongue - apologies.

No real excuse, especially as I seem to spend half my time correcting people when they ask my fiancee about "Czechoslovakia", and I tell them that they are now 2 countries, not one! (She is from Prague).

Kind regards,

Nick

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Hi Milan,

you are 100% right - the official name is "No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Bomber Squadron but I would like to note that in quite a lot of official documents (forms, reports, orders, etc.) written during the war the squadron is noted as "CZECH" only. I personally suppose it was only endeavour of clerks to shorten the text and nothing against the Slovaks;-)

Pavel

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Nick,

the Wellington R1598 KX-C had the side windows and it was Mk. IC (there are some photos proving this) serving with No. 311 Sq between March 41 and February 42 flying 51 sorties while being destroyed on overshoot, Cranwell, 23.1.43 with No. 3 OTU.

Pavel

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Perhaps they left off the Slovak part of the name in RAF wartime records, as the Slovak government was on the Axis side for much of the war?

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

I do not think so Larry - everything was officially "CZECHOSLOVAK" - government, ministry of defence, army, airforce with the RAF and also there were quite a lot of Slovaks with the No. 311 Sq.

Pavel

Re: 311 Czech Sqn Wellington: Mk.I or Mk.III?
 

Larry,

I have to support Pavel´s comments - if there was sometimes written "Czech" instead of official "Czechoslovak" in the RAF documents, it was rather caused by a general tendency of English language to shorten the words than by any political reasons. After all, many books written in English e.g. use the term Czech AF instead of correct Czechoslovak even when referring to post-war air force.

Ota