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

[nmayhew]

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

[Graham Boak]

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.

[nmayhew]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

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.

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

[Graham Boak]

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.

[milanbencek]

Hi Nicholas!

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

Milan

[Fairlop]

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

[nmayhew]

Originally Posted by milanbencek

Hi Nicholas!

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

Milan

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

[cz_raf]

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

[cz_raf]

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

[Larry]

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?