The Vickers Wellesley was a single engined light bomber that saw brief service during the Second World War. It is often overlooked, both because of its more famous cousin the Wellington medium bomber, and because it served in the Middle East and Africa rather than on the home front. Obsolete early in the war (a contemporary of the Bristol Blenheim) it nonetheless held several distance flight records for many years and served from 1937 to 1941.
Vickers Wellesley
by tirial
The Vickers Wellesley was a single engined light bomber that saw brief service with the RAF during the Second World War.
About the Vickers Wellesley Bomber
Vickers pre-war light bomber
Predating the war and designed in 1935, the Wellesley was built as part of the British rearmament process in the lead up to the Second World War. Made of metal covered with fabric, it was the first aeroplane to use the geodetic construction method, and unusually for a bomber the Wellesley carried its bombs on panniers under the wings. Soon after entering service, it set a distance record with a flight of seven thousand miles from Ismailia to Australia, landing at Brisband.
Like many aircraft designed between the first and second world wars, the Wellesley was eclipsed by aircraft developed during the war. Its lack of defensive firepower meant it was a sitting duck for fighter attack.
A record holder
Long distance flight
In 1938, a squadron of three Wellesleys flew non-stop in formation from Ismailia, Egypt to Darwin, Australia, setting a new long distance record of 7,157-mile (11,494km). It took them just over 48 hours, and remains a record-breaking flight even today: the longest flight by a single piston-engined aircraft.
However, it was a contemporary of the Bristol Blenheim, and both aircraft found themselves quickly obsolete as wartime advances left them behind. The Wellesley's main contribution to the war in Europe was to prove the success of its construction method, which was then used to produce its cousin, the incredibly robust medium bomber the Vickers Wellington.
Geodectic Construction
Developed by Barnes Wallis, Geodetic construction involved a body of criss-crossing (and those self-reinforcing) struts covered by fabric. It provided a strong, yet light weight airframe ideal for bombers and capable of taking damage.
During the Second World War
Wellesleys at war
While it played little part in the war in Europe (with a top speed of 225mph, the faster dual-engine Blenheim had largely replaced it in Britain) the Wellesley served with distinction in the Middle East and Africa during the war.
Despite being far slower than the modern aircraft, and lacking firepower, it was simply the only aircraft available. Functioning as a bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, the Wellesley served in North Africa from 1940 until 1942, when it was finally phased out.
The Wellesley taking off
A short and sadly silent clip of two Wellesleys
Technical Specifications
The build of the Vickers Wellesley
| Type: | Light Bomber (1 engine) |
| Crew: | 2/3 |
| Max Speed: | 230mph |
| Service Ceiling: | 25,000 feet* |
| Range: | 2880 miles* |
| Engines: | 1 x Bristol Pegasus engine |
| Length: | 39ft 2 inches |
| Wingspan: | 74ft 7inches |
| Height: | 15 ft 3 inch |
| Weight: | 12,500lbs |
* A squadron of three Vickers Wellesley set a distance record for continuous flight for 7,000 miles.
 | Vickers Wellesley VariantsOnly $66.25 |
Cutaway Diagrams:
A cutaway diagram is available through Flightglobal, visible here:
There are also models of the Wellesley available. The Mk1 Wellesley had two seperate cockpits, but there are rumours the MK two had only one.
There are no surviving Vickers Wellesley aircraft, and certainly no flying survivors.
Newsreels and stills of the Wellesley - including the King's tour of the factory
The newsreel and the Wellesley bombers world record distance attempt. This was successful with a flight of over 7000 miles.
More resources
More resources and reading about the Vickers Wellesley
- History of war.org - Vickers Wellesly
The Vickers Wellesley was the first aircraft built entirely using Barnes Wallis’s geodesic construction method... - RAF MOD.gov.uk - official page
The Wellesley initially started out as a private venture monoplane development of an earlier Vickers type... - Tangmere Aviation Museum
The Vickers Wellesley originated from Air Ministry Specification G4/31...
Memories of the Wellesley? Think there's something missing off the lens? Please let me know here.
Updated: 01/27/2015, tirial
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