[Alex Smart]

Hello

Just to add a little detail of the Wellington a/c in the serial batch that included LB139.

Some 150 Wellington's were built by Vickers of Weybridge as Mk.1c's and Mk.VIII's and were delivered between September 1942 and December 1942.

Serials were -
LA964 to LA998 - 35 a/c.
LB110 to LB156 - 47 a/c.
LB169 to LB197 - 29 a/c.
LB213 to LB251 - 39 a/c.
Total = 150 a/c.

Of the a/c in the batch LB110 to LB156, there are listed -
8 - Mk.1c's ( 7 of which were fitted as Torpedo Bombers ).
8 - fitted as Leigh Light a/c.c( none listed as Mk.1's ).
So the remaining 31 a/c are presumed to have been Mk.VIII's.

LB139 - is listed as a Torpedo Bomber ( Presumably a Mk.VIII ).

None of this batch is noted as being converted to anything other than TB or LL .

In my opinion the crewman may have been used to flying in a Mk.XI earlier and hence in error wrote "IX"in error in the report - part of which you kindly provided to back your request for further details on LB139.

All the very best, Perhaps others can provide pictures of other a/c in the LB139 serial range to show if indeed some were converted to Mk.IX ( XI ) a/c ? That would be good because they may show the type of side window used by this batch, is small triangle type or long type that stretched from cockpit area almost to tail .

Additional I find that Wellington a/c were -
Mk. I ; II ; III ; IV ; VI ; VIII ; X ; XI ; XII ; XIII ; XIV ; XVI , So no Mk.IX ? Confirmation please .

Alex