History of Wellington L4325?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Who can provide me with the history of Wellington L4325?

Grateful for any details, Theo

[Icare9]

No doubt you've already found in Chris Ward's book "3 Group Bomber Command" on p222 that it went to CGS (Central Gunnery School). It must therefore have been on strength with a Squadron in No 3 Group, but not much help....

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

From the most recent edition of A-B's L1000-N9999 volume (p.41):

Wellington I L4325 - 115/CGS/15 OTU/RAE To 3138M 6.42.

Col.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Theo,

To add some more detail from the Form 78 aircraft record card;

Unit: Taken on charge:
115 Sqn 2-5-1939
10 MU 21-10-1939
CGS 7-3-1940
10 MU 10-4-1940
15 OTU 1-5-1940
(Cat. 2 damage 6-9-1940. Engine failure in flight, forced landed in field near Farnborough. From the Form 1180 aircraft accident card).
RAE 16-9-1940
10 MU 15-3-1941 (although written as '15-3-1940').
RAE 31-12-1941
AW/Colln. 7-3-1942
8 MU 19-3-1942
(Damaged landing on date unknown. 'To be transferred to 7 Sig. School for instructional use'. Became 3138M.)
7 Sig. Sch. ?
SOC June 1942 (but 1-9-1944 also noted as Cat. E).

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks chaps for your quick and useful replies!

Beste regards, Theo

[Col Bruggy]

Martin,

No.7 SIGNALS SCHOOL.

Formed 1.1.42 in No.27 Group at Albert Court, Prince Consort Road, SOUTH KENSINGTON, London SW.7, to train ground operators; Became No.7 Radio School 1.1.43.

See: FT&SU since 1912/Sturtivant with Hamlin/A-B/2007/253.

Col.

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Further to this topic: the Wellington L4325 bears the unit code NH -I can't determine which unit this might be, who can help me with that? The airman who took the photo was killed in action in July 1940, so the photo was taken before that.

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[MW Giles]

NH was the pre-war code of 38 Sqn, but they had become HD by the start of war

During the war NH was used by 274, 415 and 119 Sqns, 415 got Wellington XIIIs in 1943


Martin

[Icare9]

Wiki has

........ In 1937 the squadron moved to RAF Marham and in December 1938 received the first of the new Vickers Wellington bombers. It was declared operational on the outbreak of war as a bomber squadron under No. 3 Group. 38 Squadron was one of the few RAF squadrons to use the Wellington from the beginning to the end of the Second World War........

which fits with the NH Code being pre War and the taking of photos before any wartime restrictions. Being an early delivery gives Jan to Sept 1939 as the window for the photo to have been taken.
From Post #4 from Martin, it's unlikely to be L4325 as he has that airframe as first being taken on charge by 115 Squadron after delivery in May 1939.

What you need is an L4xx5 being TOC by 38 Squadron, presumably later than May 1939 if '25 was delivered then.

Not much help, though!

EDIT: Mr Giles has beaten my fumbling conclusion!

[Theo Boiten]

Thank you gentlemen for your interesting replies! In which period did L4295 serve with 38 Squadron, and what was the ultimate fate of the aircraft?

Cheers, Theo