Other 'Dam Busting' Wellingtons

摘要

Two other Wellingtons have connections with the "Dam Busters". On May 15,1943, Wallis was summoned to supervise the final preparations for Chastise. He flew up to Scampton that afternoon, with Summers and Major Kilner, Vickers' managing director. In his book Enemy Coast Ahead, Wg Cdr Guy Gibson wrote: "A white aeroplane landed on our aerodrome and taxied up to our hangar." This has led to the supposition in some accounts that the aircraft was carrying Red Cross markings. In fact Summers had taken the first available aircraft, a Wellington XIV, painted in Coastal Command's grey and white scheme. MP718 had only just been completed and was awaiting delivery to No 38 Maintenance Unit, prior to delivery to the Special Installation Unit at Colerne for the fitting of its operational equipment. It was written off at Sywell on March 23, 1944, when it was struck by Wellington X HF732 of No 22 OTU which swung on take off.