Info on Wellington Z1572 Q*VR or VB

[Larry Hickey]

Am just processing a photo of Wellington Z1572 Q*VR or VB, and need info on when this a/c would have been used, and info on the Squadron with codes VR or possibly VB. Need to code it in for a data base. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanx

[Hans Nauta]

Dear Larry,

Wellington Z1572 served in sequence with 115, 75, 419, 427 Squadron and 16 OTU and was eventually struck off charge 30th April 1945 (Royal Air Force Aircraft W1000-Z9999, Air Britain Publication)

419 Squadron used the fuselage code VR, no indication in which time frame this Wellington served with 419 Squadron.

Kind regards,

Hans

[Larry]

I think it is safe to say that the year when VR-Q was with 419 Sqn was 1942, as the batch of Mk III 's from which Z1572 came was delivered between November 1941 and May 1942. 75 Sqn got its first Mk III's in January 1942 and 419 Sqn got rid of them in November 1942, when it received Halifax Mk II 's.

Hopefully there will be other clues in your photo as to the time of year / and possible month.

If only the aircraft record cards were on line!

[Larry Hickey]

Thanks guys,

This is exactly the info that I needed. This ends up being beyond the scope of my research project (39-40). If anyone needs a really good air to air photo of this a/c, nose to tail, I'm willing to forward a 300 dpi scan to them of this at no charge. Reply by the private message board.

Larry

[Smudger Smith]

Following on from Hans detailed post, I can add dates to the squadrons mentioned.

48 MU 07.01.1942
115 Sqdn 01.04.1942
75 Sqdn 02.04.1942
CAT AC FB 14.04.1942
75 Sqdn 02.05.1942
419 Sqdn 13.05.1942
CAT FB *
419 Sqdn 05.09.1942
427 Sqdn 09.11.1942

This aircraft carried out it's first operation with No.419 (B) squadron on the 1000 bomber raid on Cologne 30/31st May 1942. The aircraft was flown by Pilot Officer Jost.

* On July 27th 1942 the aircraft was involved in a forced landing at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk. While taking off the port tyre burst, the pilot F/O Jost managed to get the aircraft airborne and was instructed by the squadron C/O ( W/Cdr John Fulton, killed the following day ) to land with the aircrafts u/c down and full starboard brake applied. Damage to the Wellington was superficial, a bent prop and minor engine damage.

The squadron was at the time part of No.3 Group, RAF Bomber Command.


Hope this helps