Editing Vickers Wellington (section)

==Operational history==

[[File:Dwi wellington front.jpg|thumb|The 48 ft diameter magnetic coil on a Wellington DWI Mark II was used to detonate [[naval mine]]s.]]
On 3 September 1939, the same day the [[United Kingdom declaration of war on Germany (1939)|United Kingdom declared war on Germany]] in response to the invasion of Poland, [[No. 3 Group RAF|No. 3 Group]] Bomber Command  based in East Anglia comprised six front line squadrons ([[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9]], [[No. 37 Squadron RAF|No. 37]], [[No. 38 Squadron RAF|No. 38]], [[No. 99 Squadron RAF|No. 99]], [[No. 115 Squadron RAF|No. 115]] and [[No. 149 Squadron RAF|No. 149 Squadrons]]) and two reserve squadrons ([[No. 214 Squadron RAF|No. 214]] and [[No. 215 Squadron RAF|No. 215 squadrons]]), all equipped with a mixture of Wellington Mk I and Mk IA aircraft.<ref name = "andrew 13"/>

On 4 September 1939, less than 24 hours after the commencement of hostilities, a total of 14 Wellingtons of No. 9 and No. 149 Squadrons, alongside a number of [[Bristol Blenheim]] aircraft, performed the first RAF bombing raid of the war, against German shipping at [[Brunsbüttel]].<ref name = "andrew 13"/> The bombing of the harbour had not been permitted by Chamberlain's [[War cabinet#Chamberlain War Cabinet|War Cabinet]] for fear of injuring civilians. The effectiveness of the raid was diminished by poor weather and high amounts of anti-aircraft fire. A pair of Wellingtons became the first aircraft to be lost on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]].<ref name = "andrew 13"/>

On 3 December 1939, 24 Wellingtons of No. 38, No. 115 and No. 147 Squadrons attacked the German fleet moored at [[Heligoland]]. The bombing commenced from high altitude and, while results of the bombing itself proved negligible, the ability of a formation of Wellingtons to penetrate strongly defended hostile airspace was validated.<ref name = "andrew 13"/> On 14 December 1939, 12 Wellingtons of No. 99 Squadron conducted a low-level raid upon German shipping at the [[Schillig Roads]] and [[Wilhelmshaven]]. Encountering enemy fire from warships, [[Anti-aircraft warfare|flak]], and ''Luftwaffe'' aircraft, the Wellington formation lost five aircraft, along with another that crashed near its base, while only one enemy fighter was shot down.<ref name = "andrew 13 14">Andrews 1967, pp. 13, 14.</ref>

On 18 December 1939, 24 Wellingtons of No. 9, No. 37 and No. 149 Squadrons participated in the [[Battle of the Heligoland Bight (1939)|Battle of the Heligoland Bight]] against the German fleet and naval bases in both the Schillig Roads and Wilhelmshaven. The Wellingtons were unable to drop their bombs as all vessels were in harbour, thus restrictions on endangering civilians prevented their engagement.<ref name = "andrew 14"/> Having been alerted by [[radar]], ''Luftwaffe'' [[fighter aircraft]] intercepted the incoming bombers near to Heligoland and attacked the formation for much of the way home. Twelve of the bombers were destroyed and a further three were badly damaged. The Wellingtons shot down four aircraft.<ref name = "andrew 14">Andrews 1967, p. 14.</ref><ref name="Richards v1 p46"/>

[[File:Wellington GR Mk XIII IWM CNA 3535.jpg|thumb|left|Wellington GR Mk XIII showing anti-submarine radar masts]]
The action at Heligoland highlighted the Wellington's vulnerability to attacking fighters, possessing neither self-sealing fuel tanks nor sufficient defensive armament. The nose and tail turrets protected against attacks from the front and rear, the Wellington had no defences against attacks from the beam and above, as it had not been believed that such attacks were possible owing to the high speed of aircraft involved and the deflection shooting required.<ref name = "andrew 14"/><ref name="Richards v1 p46">Richards 1953, p. 46.</ref> Unescorted day bombing was abandoned and Bomber Command decided to use the Wellington force to attack German communications and industrial targets instead.<ref name = "andrew 14"/>

[[File:9 Squadron in Formation 1939-45.jpg|thumb|upright|Vickers Wellingtons of 9 Squadron flying in formation.]]
The Wellington was converted for night operations; on 25 August 1940, the type participated in the first night raid on [[Berlin]]. During the [[Bombing of Cologne in World War II|First 1,000 bomber raid]], on [[Cologne]] on 30 May 1942, 599 out of 1,046 RAF aircraft dispatched were Wellingtons; of these, 101 were flown by [[Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain|Polish]] aircrew. During operations under Bomber Command, Wellingtons flew 47,409 operations, dropped 41,823&nbsp;tons (37,941&nbsp;tonnes) of bombs and lost 1,332 aircraft in action.

In one incident, a German [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] night-fighter attacked a Wellington returning from an attack on [[Münster]], causing a fire at the rear of the starboard engine. The second pilot, Sergeant [[James Allen Ward]] ([[RNZAF]]) climbed out of the fuselage, kicked holes in the doped fabric of the wing for foot and hand holds to reach the starboard engine and smothered the burning upper wing covering. He and the aircraft returned home safely and Ward was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]].<ref name="Richards Hardest p115">Richards 1995, p. 115.</ref> A unique feat for the type occurred on 23 December 1944 when a [[Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet|Me 163 Komet]] was shot down by rear gunner Gerry Elsyon, who was awarded the DFM.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Bowman |first=Martin |title=Wellington The Geodetic Giant |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |year=1989 |isbn=1-85310-076-5 |location=Shrewsbury |page=105}}</ref>

[[File:De Vickers Wellington met het serienummer L7788 en de rompcode KX-E 2189-01-21-005.jpg|thumb|A captured Wellington ''L7788'' in Luftwaffe service, 1940.]]

In 1942 the Wellington was adapted to conduct night anti-shipping torpedo attacks against German and Italian shipping in the Mediterranean. The torpedo-carrying Wellington was nicknamed the "Fishington", and the radar equipped Wellingtons that guided the torpedo carrying aircraft onto their target were dubbed the "Snoopington".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Conyers Nesbit |first1=Roy |title=The Armed Rovers: Beauforts and Beaufighters Over the Mediterranean |date=2012 |publisher=[[Pen and Sword]] |location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1-84884-895-5 |chapter=6 Fuel for the Panzerarmee}}</ref> 38 Squadron, based in Shallufah, Egypt had a detachment of Wellingtons operating from [[RAF Luqa]] in [[Malta]] conducting anti-shipping operations with torpedoes during 1942.  

The Wellington was also adopted by [[RAF Coastal Command]], in which it contributed to the [[Battle of the Atlantic]].<ref name = "andrew 14"/> The Mark IC in Coastal had a endurance of over ten hours at a cruising speed of 125 knots carrying {{Convert|1,500|lb|abbr=on}} of bombs or depth charges.{{Sfn|Richards|1953|p=412}} It was used for anti-submarine operations; on 6 July 1942, a Wellington sank its first enemy vessel. In 1944, Wellingtons of Coastal Command were sent to [[Greece]] and performed various support duties during the British intervention in the [[Greek Civil War]]. A few Wellingtons were operated by the [[Hellenic Air Force]].

While the Wellington was superseded in the [[European Theatre]] as more four engined bombers arrived in service, it remained in operational service for much of the war in the [[Middle East]] and still formed a key part of the RAF's Mediterranean forces as the allies moved into [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italy]], with some still serving in March 1945 carrying out bombing raids and dropping supplies to partisans across Southern Europe.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Bond |first=Steve |title=Wimpy |publisher=Grub Street |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-909808-14-0 |location=London}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In 1942, Wellingtons based in [[India]] became the RAF's first long-range bombers operating in the [[Far East]] with the arrival of [[No. 99 Squadron RAF|99]] and [[No. 215 Squadron RAF|215]] Squadrons RAF,<ref name=":0" /> providing much needed bombing support for the next two years before being withdrawn and replaced by Liberators in the summer of 1944. Wellingtons were also used for maritime patrols over the Indian Ocean by [[No. 36 Squadron RAF|36]], and later, [[No. 203 Squadron RAF|203]] Squadrons RAF.<ref name=":1" />

The Wellington also served in anti-submarine duties off the African cost with [[26 Squadron SAAF]] based in [[Takoradi]], [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]] (now [[Ghana]]), and the Free French [[No. 344 Squadron RAF|344 Squadron]] from [[Dakar]].<ref name=":1" />

===Mine clearance ===
Specialised "Directional Wireless Installation" (DWI), a cover story for the true purpose of the hoop variants, fitted with a {{cvt|48|ft}} diameter metal hoop, were used for exploding German [[magnetic mine]]s by generating a powerful magnetic field as it passed over them.<ref name = "andrew 14"/> The first successful mine detonation occurred on 8 January 1940 followed by a second on 13 January. In the latter the aircraft flew below the safe 35&nbsp;ft altitude and was caught in the explosive blast though remained flyable.<ref name="Mackay 1985 p23">Mackay 1985 p. 23</ref> The hoop was an aluminium coil in an aerodynamic balsa case; turrets were faired over and unnecessary equipment removed to reduce weight. The first mine detonation unit No. 1 GRU at [[RAF Manston]] was joined by a second (No. 2 GRU) at [[RAF Bircham Newton]]. To protect the unarmed Wellingtons, Bristol Blenheims of [[No. 600 Squadron RAF]] flew escort during the [[Battle of France]]. One DWI was detached to the Middle East to act as the pattern for conversion of Wellingtons there. They were used for clearing the Suez Canal Zone and, later during the [[North Africa campaign]], ports along the coast.<ref name="Mackay 1985 p23"/>

=== Anti-submarine ===
For the development of what became the Leigh light, squadron leader Leigh fitted a 24-inch search light in the 'dustbin' turret of a DWI Wellington testing it from January 1941. This prototype substituted batteries for the engine and generator setup to reduce weight and this carried forward into production Leigh light-equipped Wellingtons.{{Sfn|Bowman|2011|pp=54–55}} Together with accurate radar altimeters, Wellingtons could fly safely down to 50&nbsp;ft, illuminating the target submarine at around half a mile away just as the air-to-surface-vessel (ASV) radar lost the target among returns from the water's surface.{{Sfn|Bowman|2011|p=55}}

===Airborne radar===
In late 1944, a radar-equipped Wellington XIV from 407 Sqn. RCAF was modified for use by the RAF's [[Fighter Interception Unit]] as what would now be described as an [[airborne early warning and control]] aircraft.<ref name="bga">Jackson 2007, p. 217.</ref> It operated at an altitude of {{cvt|4000|ft}} over the [[North Sea]] to control a [[de Havilland Mosquito]] and a [[Bristol Beaufighter]] fighter intercepting [[Heinkel He 111]] bombers flying from [[Netherlands|Dutch]] airbases and carrying out airborne launches of the [[V-1 flying bomb]]. The FIU operators on the Wellington would search for the He 111 aircraft climbing to launch altitude, then direct the Beaufighter to attack the bomber, while the Mosquito would attempt to intercept the V-1 if it was launched.<ref>R.H. Hamilton in Perkins, L.W., ed., Flight into Yesterday – A Memory or Two from Members of the Wartime Aircrew Club of Kelowna, L.P. Laserprint, Ltd., Kelowna, B.C., 2000</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2024}}<ref>''407 Squadron History 1941–1996 – a Narrative History, 407'' Squadron, 1996</ref>