Where were Wellington bombers based in WW2?
While the Wellington was superseded in the European Theatre, it remained in operational service for much of the war in the Middle East and in 1942, Wellingtons based in India became the RAF’s first long-range bomber operating in the Far East.
Who flew the most bomber missions in WW2?
Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993) was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions.
Are there any surviving Wellington bombers?
Two Wellington bombers have survived to the present; the one recovered from Loch Ness is on display at Brooklands Museum Weybridge, Surrey.
How many missions did bomber crews fly in WW2?
Due to the extremely hazardous nature of bombing Axis targets, the Army Air Corps mandated that the country only expected bomber pilots and crews to fly a maximum of 25 combat missions before their time in the military was honorably served.
Where can I see a Wellington bomber?
Of the 11,464 Wellingtons built in total, two survivors can be seen on static display at the RAF Museum, Hendon and at Brooklands.
What engine was in the Wellington bomber?
Bristol PerseusVickers Wellington / Engine type
What was the life expectancy of a ww2 bomber crew?
More than 50,000 Airmen lost their lives in the four years of WWII and the majority of those losses were on bomber missions over Nazi Germany in B-17s and B-24s. The average age of the crew of a B-17 was less than 25, with four officers and six enlisted Airmen manning the aircraft.
Who is the deadliest pilot?
Erich Hartmann
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.
Are any Vickers Wellingtons still flying?
In 1939 the Vickers Wellington was the best bomber Britain had, capable of carrying 4,500lbs of bombs and flying at 235mph. More than 11,000 were built and many survived the war but this is the only one that remains in its original condition.
What was the life expectancy of a WW2 bomber crew?
What was the average age of a WWII bomber pilot?
Most aircrew were aged between 19 and 25, although some were as young as 16, and at least one was in his sixties. (For more details, see “Aircrew Ages” section below.) In total 364,514 operational sorties were flown and 8,325 aircraft lost in action.
How many engines does a Wellington bomber have?
Two
Vickers Wellington B Mk X
| Vickers Wellington B Mk X | |
|---|---|
| Powerplant | Two 1,615hp Bristol Hercules VI or XVI engines |
| Span | 86ft 2in |
| Maximum Weight | 36,500lb |
| Capacity & Armament | Pilot and 4/5 crew. 2 gun nose turret, 2 gun rear turret, two waist guns, bomb load up to 4,000lb. |
What happened to all the Lancaster bombers after the war?
All the remaining 11 were all unceremoniously scrapped post war.
Who shot down the most planes in WW2?
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills. How did Hartmann get so good at dominating the skies over the Eastern Front?
What were the odds of surviving WW2?
As 2,000 paratroopers face 345,000 bullets, across an area of sky covering 9 squares miles, the chances of survival were 1 in 4. But 50% of the men survive.
Who shot down most planes in ww2?
Who was the best pilot ever?
Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed. His nickname „Bubi“ means „little boy“ – and it’s easy to find out why he was called like that.
What engine did the Wellington bomber have?
Bristol Hercules VI
How many missions did the average pilot fly in WW2?
Very broadly, a typical fighter pilot might rack up 250 – 500 combat missions from 1941 to 1945; a bomber pilot, perhaps 50 – 100 if they survived (considering Bomber Command losses were averaging 5% at times, completing one tour, let alone more, was statistically unlikely).
How long did it take a Lancaster bomber to fly to Germany?
seven and a half hour
On the night of 16th December 1943 RAF Bomber Command mounted another raid on the German capital of Berlin, this time with 483 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitos. The Lancasters took off from their bases in England between 16:00 and 17:00 for the seven and a half hour flight to Berlin and back.
How many Lancaster bombers lost in ww2?
3,736
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engine heavy bomber used by the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces during World War II. Of the 7,377 aircraft built, 3,736 were lost during the War (3,249 in action and 487 in ground accidents).
Who was the best pilot in WW2?
Top Image: Major Richard Bong courtesy of the US Air Force. Known as the “Ace of Aces” for his rank as the top American flying ace during World War II, Major Richard Ira Bong is credited with the downing of an impressive confirmed total of 40 enemy aircraft over the course of his career as a fighter pilot.
What was the most feared plane in WW2?
Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it. Lockheed Hudson Useful aeroplane. The wooden lifeboat was designed to be dropped by Hudsons to rescue airmen who had ditched.
Who shot down the most planes in ww2?