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