The Collaborative Dictionary

Whitely \White"ly\, a. Like, or coming near to, white. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory, and remained an integral part of the early British bomber offensive until the introduction of four-engine "heavies". Its front line service included performing maritime reconnaissance duties with Coastal Command, while also being employed in the second line roles of glider-tug, trainer and transport aircraft.

The aircraft was named after Whitley, a suburb of Coventry where one of Armstrong Whitworth's plants was located.

Design and development

• • No. 7 Squadron RAF between March 1938 and May 1939.
  • No. 10 Squadron RAF between March 1937 and December 1941.
  • No. 51 Squadron RAF between February 1938 and October 1942.
  • No. 53 Squadron RAF between February 1943 and May 1943.
  • No. 58 Squadron RAF between October 1937 and January 1943.
  • No. 76 Squadron RAF
  • No. 77 Squadron RAF between November 1938 and October 1942.
  • No. 78 Squadron RAF between July 1937 and March 1942.
  • No. 97 Squadron RAF between February 1939 and May 1940.
  • No. 102 Squadron RAF between October 1938 and February 1942.
  • No. 105 Squadron RAF
  • No. 109 Squadron RAF operated only one aircraft (P5047).
  • No. 138 Squadron RAF between August 1941 and October 1942.
  • No. 161 Squadron RAF between February 1942 and December 1942.
  • No. 166 Squadron RAF between July 1938 and April 1940.
  • No. 201 Squadron RAF
  • No. 295 Squadron RAF between August 1942 and November 1943.
  • No. 296 Squadron RAF between June 1943 and March 1943.
  • No. 297 Squadron RAF between February 1942 and February 1944.
  • No. 298 Squadron RAF between August 1942 and October 1942.
  • No. 502 Squadron RAF between October 1940 and February 1943.
  • No. 612 Squadron RAF between November 1940 and June 1943.
  • No. 1478 Flight RAF

• Fleet Air Arm
  • No. 734 Naval Air Squadron operated Whitleys between February 1944 and February 1946.

Civil Operators

*British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC)

Survivors

Of the 1,737 Whitleys produced, there are no surviving complete aircraft in existence; however, The Whitley Project are rebuilding an example from salvaged remains and a fuselage section is displayed at the Midland Air Museum (MAM) whose site is located adjacent to the airfield from where the Whitley's maiden flight took place.

Specifications (Whitley Mk.V)

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Cheshire, Leonard. Leonard Cheshire V.C. Bomber Pilot. St. Albans, Herts, UK: Mayflower, 1975 (reprint of 1943 edition). ISBN 0-583-12541-7.
• Crosby, Francis. The World Encyclopedia of Bombers. London: Anness Publishing Ltd., 2007. ISBN 1-84477-511-9.
• Donald, David and Lake, Jon. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2.
• Green, William. Famous Bombers of the Second World War. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1959, (third revised edition 1975). ISBN 0-356-08333-0.
• Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: RAF Bombers, Part 1. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1979. ISBN 0-354-01230-4.
• Moyes, Philip J.R. The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. London: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967.
• Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1964, revised edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
• Roberts, R.N. The Whitley File. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1986.
• Wixey, Ken. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (Warpaint Series No. 21). Denbigh East, Bletchley, UK: Hall Park Books Ltd., 1999. ISBN 0-99990-021-7.

External links

• Whitley Bomber Crews and Their Experiences
• Norwegian article about the Whitley bomber