Origin:
Vickers - Armstrongs ( Aircraft ) Ltd.

Type :
Long range bomber with crew of six.

Engines:
Two 1,050 hp Bristol Pegasus nine cylinder radials.

Dimensions:
Span 86ft 2in (26.26m); length 64ft 7in (19.68m); height 17ft 6in (5.33m).

Weight:
Empty 18,556lb (8417kg); loaded 25,800lb (11,703kg)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 235mph (379km/h); initial climb: 1,050 ft/min (320 m/min); service ceiling: 22,000 feet (6710 m): range with bomb load of 1,500lb (680kg): 2,200miles (3540km).

Armament:
Nash and Thompson turrets at the front and rear each with two 0.303 in Browning machine guns. Two Vickers K 0.303 in Machine guns manually aimed from beam windows. Bomb load up to 4,500lb (2041kg) internally.

History:
Designed by the legendary Barnes Wallis, the production Vickers Wellington Mk I was first flown in December 1937 and was the RAF's best bomber at the start of the war. It had a good range and could carry a reasonable bomb load for the time. It was noted for the enormous amount of punishment it could withstand which was largely due to its revolutionary geodetic construction. The Wellington operated successfully throughout the war in a variety of roles and was without doubt one of the outstanding aircraft of the Second World War.

103 Squadron was equipped with this aircraft from October 1940 to July 1942, during which time it proved a very reliable and capable machine, flying in many bombing operations over occupied Europe.

Whilst operating the Vickers Wellington, 103 Squadron flew on 138 bombing operations and six minelaying operations detailing 1,116 sorties for the loss of 37 aircraft on operations, one in training and one in transit.

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