Corgi AA34801 Vickers Wellington Mk I Diecast Model RAF No.9 Sqn

Corgi AA34801 Vickers Wellington Mk I Diecast Model RAF No.9 Sqn

The Wellington was the first bomber aircraft used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the first unit to be equipped with it was No.99 Squadron based at Mildenhall. The squadron received its first Wellington airplane on October 10, 1938. By the start of the war in September 1939, a total of ten squadrons were equipped with Wellington bombers, and No.9 Squadron based at Honington was the fourth to receive them, in January 1939. Eight of these ten Wellington Squadrons comprised the total strength of No.3 Group, Bomber Command.

Wellingtons conducted the first large-scale operational sorties of the war on behalf of the RAF. On September 4, 1939, 14 Wellingtons from Nos.9 and 149 Squadrons attacked enemy warships off Brunsbuttel in an abortive raid, in which most aircraft failed to find their target. Those that did were to see that their bombs were mostly ineffective against the shipping they attacked.

This particular Wellington airplane was piloted by Sgt. Frank Petts and was decorated in the standard dark earth and dark green upper surfaces, with the night undersides for the night-time bombing missions they were largely involved in. Following a disastrous final day bombing mission on December 18, 1939, which saw 12 of 24 Wellingtons destroyed, no more unescorted daylight raids were undertaken until the end of the war. Night bombing techniques were developed, in which the Wellington featured strongly.