List of Vickers Wellington operators

The Vickers Wellington is a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber aircraft that was produced from 1936 to 1945 and used throughout World War II. It was operated by a number of nations and service branches around the world.

Operators

Australia

Royal Australian Air Force

No. 458 Squadron RAAF Code letters "FU"
No. 460 Squadron RAAF Code letters "UV" and "AR"
No. 466 Squadron RAAF Code letters "HD"

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

No. 405 Squadron RCAF 'Vancouver Squadron' Code letters "LQ"
No. 407 Squadron RCAF Code Letters "RR"
No. 415 Squadron RCAF Code Letters "6U"
No. 419 Squadron RCAF 'Moose Squadron' Code letters "VR"
No. 420 Squadron RCAF 'Snowy Owl Squadron' Code letters "PT"
No. 424 Squadron RCAF 'Tiger Squadron' Code letters "QB"
No. 425 Squadron RCAF 'Alouette Squadron' Code letters "KW"
No. 426 Squadron RCAF 'Thunderbird Squadron' Code letters "OW"
No. 427 Squadron RCAF 'Lion Squadron' Code letters "ZL"
No. 428 Squadron RCAF 'Ghost Squadron' Code letters "NA"
No. 429 Squadron RCAF 'Bison Squadron' Code letters "AL"
No. 431 Squadron RCAF Code Letters "SE"
No. 432 Squadron RCAF 'Leaside Squadron' Code letters "QO"

Flottille 2.F (earlier No. 344 Squadron RAF) operated Wellingtons between 1945 and 1952.^[1]
Escadrille 55.S operated Wellingtons between 1948 and 1952.^[2]

Nazi Germany

A captured Vickers Wellington Mk.IC (RAF serial L7842) in service with the German Luftwaffe, probably at the test center at Rechlin, circa 1941. L7842 was delivered in mid-1940. It was lost on 6 February 1941 while in service with No. 311 Squadron, RAF, while on a mission to Boulogne (France).

Luftwaffe

2./Versuchsverband OKL operated a few captured aircraft.

Greece

Hellenic Air Force^[3]

No. 13 Squadron RHAF
No. 355 Squadron RHAF operated Wellingtons after WW2, mainly for transport duties.

New Zealand

RNZAF received 30 Wellington Mark I's before WW2, the first 18 of which were training with the RAF when in August 1939 they were loaned, together with aircrew, to the UK, forming the unit which later became No. 75 Squadron RNZAF.

Royal New Zealand Air Force

No. 75 Squadron RNZAF, Code letters "AA", "JN"

Poland

RAF Coastal Command aircraft Vickers Wellington of one of Polish Squadrons

Polish Air Forces in exile in Great Britain

No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron "Land of Masovia" Code letters "BH"
No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron "Land of Pomerania" Code letters "GR"
No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron "Land of Silesia" Code letters "NZ" and "2"
No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron "Land of Greater Poland" Squadron Code "SM"

Portugal

Portuguese Air Force

One Vickers Wellington was interned in Portugal during World War II.

South Africa

South African Air Force

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

Fleet Air Arm^[4]

References

Citations

^ "Flottille 2.F" entry at the French Fleet Air Arm website Archived 2002-04-06 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Escadrille 55.S" entry at the French Fleet Air Arm website Archived 2002-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Air operations during the Greek Civil War website". Archived from the original on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
^ Thetford 1991, p. 471.

Bibliography

Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.

History of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Christopher Shores, Royce Publications, Toronto, 1984

[1] "Flottille 2.F" entry at the French Fleet Air Arm website Archived 2002-04-06 at the Wayback Machine

[2] "Escadrille 55.S" entry at the French Fleet Air Arm website Archived 2002-02-22 at the Wayback Machine

[3] "Air operations during the Greek Civil War website". Archived from the original on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2008-10-22.

[FOOTNOTEThetford1991471-4] Thetford 1991, p. 471.

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