Wellington R5445
 

Hello friends,

In the ORB of 9 Sqdn.RAF a Wellington R5445 is mentioned but according to the wellknown Air Britain series, this serial number falls in a block reserved for Avro Manchesters which was cancelled.

I am interested to know whether this R5445 was just one Wellington (suggested by the fact that I haven't found any losses in the R54xx range), modified to carry a 4000 lb HC Cookie? Or was there a small production batch?

Any help is much appreciated, best regards,

Marcel

Re: Wellington R5445
 

Hello,

Possible error in ORB, could be "W5445"

https://218squadron.files.wordpress....8/img_4709.jpg

Col.

Re: Wellington R5445
 

Hello

Thanks for clearing that mistake ! I thought of that possibility but as R 5445 was repeated several times in the ORB, I became curious.

W 5445 would perfectly fit into a number of Wellingtons with 'Type 423' modification (for carrying a 4000 lb HC Cookie).

For identifying Wellington Mk.I's with Type 423 modification I am afraid that I have to check each ORB of 40, 57, 99 and other squadrons...

Again many thanks! Best regards, Marcel

Re: Wellington R5445
 

Marchel,

No.218 Squadron used operationally the following Mk.Ic with the 'Type 423' modification.

Wellington Mk.Ic Z8957 HA-L
Wellington Mk.Ic Z8965 HA-L
Wellington Mk.Ic Z8982 HA-E
Wellington Mk.Ic Z8431 HA-J
Wellington Mk.Ic Z8970 HA-W
Wellington Mk.Ic Z8375 HA-Z

Regards

Steve

Re: Wellington R5445
 

Hello Steve,

You were already in my chapter 'I am thankful for the support of...' but nevertheless many thanks for your listing. I had most of the serial numbers you present listed as Mk.II's but apparantly I am wrong (I don't have the AIR BRITAIN book with all serial numbers Z...)

Again many thanks! Warm greetings from Venlo, Marcel