Vickers Wellington DWI
Vickers Wellington DWI L4374
No. 1 GRU, Ismalia Egypt, 1942.
The Vickers Wellington was called on to carry out many tasks in its
versatile existence, but probably none more unusual that that which
carried the DWI designation. This stood for Directional Wireless Installation,
which was intentionally misleading; the role of these converted Wellington
Mk Is was to find and explode the German magnetic mines that were a
considerable danger to Allied shipping from the outset of World War
II.
The first Wellington DWI Mk I, P2518, was flown in December 1939, having
its turrets replaced by fairings and carrying a 48ft diameter circular
coil made from aluminium alloy strip. This was energised by a current
generated by an internally mounted Ford V8 car engine, and when successful
caused the mine to explode after the aircraft had overflown it. P5218
was issued to No.l GRU (General Reconnaissance Unit) and carried out
its first successful operation from Manston on 8 January 1940. Three
further Wellington DWI Mk I conversions (Vickers type 418) were carried
out, and all four were later upgraded to Wellington DWI Mk II standard
(type 419) with the installation of a DH Gypsy Six engine to provide
more generating capacity. Sweeps were generally carried out by a formation
of three DWI aircraft, and on 10 May 1940 this technique was used to
enable a safe naval evacuation by the Dutch Royal family. Shortly after
this No.l GRU was posted to the Middle East. No.l GRU were there based
at Ismalia, with their operations carried out over Alexandria harbour,
and in particular the Suez Canal, and as the Allied armies advances
along the coast the harbours of Tobruk and Benghazi. At least eleven
further conversions to Wellington DWI Mk II standard were made, one
of these being L4374, built at Weybridge in July 1939 as a Mk I. Others
were converted in the field in the Middle East.
Scale 1:144 Wingspan 7.18" (182 mm) Base
size 6.37" (162 mm) square (No. 4)
Weight not including base 8.25 ozs (235 grams)
Price £98.00 plus delivery
