Aircrew: The Story of the Men Who Flew the Bombers (14 page)

Vickers Wellington. Designed by Barnes Wallis and incorporating a geodetic construction of great strength, this bomber was by far the best of the RAF’s earlier wartime twin-engine ‘Heavies’. Note the geodetic framework showing through the beam gunport, giving an almost ‘Tudor’ window effect!
(RAF Museum)
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Heinkel HE 111. One of three twin-engine bomber types used in large numbers on heavily escorted daylight raids by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain
(Robert Hunt Library)
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Short Stirling. Here being ‘bombed-up’. First and biggest of the new breed of Bomber Command’s four-engine ‘Heavies’, it was inferior in every way to either the Lancaster or the Halifax
(RAF Museum)
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Miles Magister. Single-engine, Primary Training monoplane. Two open cockpits in tandem with dual control
(RAF Museum)
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Airspeed Oxford. Twin-engine Advanced Training monoplane. Accommodation for three crew – instructor and two pupils
(RAF Museum)
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Avro Anson. Twin-engine Advanced Training monoplane
(RAF Museum)
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Handley Page Hampden. Twin-engine medium bomber. With a crew of four this was among the most cramped aircraft ever designed
(Robert Hunt Library)
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North American Harvard. Single-engine Advanced Training monoplane

Airspeed Horsa. Troop or freight-carrying glider. Apart from pilot and co-pilot, this glider could lift fifteen fully-armed airborne troops
(RAF Museum)
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A DH Mosquito Night Fighter Intruder of the type that came to the rescue of Reg Scarth and his crew
(RAF Museum)
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Handley Page Halifax similar in appearance to that used by 161 Squadron
(RAF Museum)
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Avro Lancaster of 617 Squadron. Various modifications were undertaken, at different periods to accommodate the special bombs carried by 617 Squadron. This 617 ‘Lane’ has a ‘cut-away’ under-belly forming a neat recess for giant bombs
(RAF Museum)
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DH Tiger Moth. Single-engine, Primary Training biplane. Two open cockpits in tandem with dual control