US Naval Aviation Training Division

Vickers Wellington

  Aeroplane identification poster, 1942 63 x 47 cm A particularly unusual style of aeroplane identification poster, owing to the very arty images. Most such posters rely on very plain silhouettes, this series - and we have several in this series; view them here - have a much more arty approach to the task with shading and an interesting angle view. The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson; a key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis. Development had been started in response to Air Ministry Specification B.9/32, issued in the middle of 1932, for a bomber for the Royal Air Force. This specification called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design. Other aircraft developed to the same specification include the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and the Handley Page Hampden. During the development process, performance requirements such as for the tare weight changed substantially, and the engine used was not the one originally intended. The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command. During 1943, it started to be superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft. It holds the distinction of having been the only British bomber that was produced for the duration of the war, and of having been produced in a greater quantity than any other British-built bomber. The Wellington remained as first-line equipment when the war ended, although it had been increasingly relegated to secondary roles. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley. A larger heavy bomber aircraft designed to Specification B.1/35, the Vickers Warwick, was developed in parallel with the Wellington; the two aircraft shared around 85% of their structural components. Many elements of the Wellington were also re-used in a civil derivative, the Vickers VC.1 Viking. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

US Naval Aviation Training Division

DH Mosquito World War 2 US airplane

Original aeroplane identification poster, 1943 63 x 47 cm The Mosquito, the 'wooden wonder', was made entirely from wood to counteract metal shortages. Being wooden, it was very light, and when powered by two Merlin engines could outrun any German aeroplane, hence its use for Photographic Reconnaissance. Goering is reputed to have said: "In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. When the war is over I shall buy a British radio set. Then at least I shall have something that works." If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

US Naval Aviation Training Division

Short Stirling World War 2 US airplane

Aeroplane identification poster, 1943 63 x 47 cm A particularly unusual style of aeroplane identification poster, owing to the very arty images. Most such posters rely on very plain silhouettes, this series - and we have several in this series (click here) - have a much more arty approach to the task with shading and an interesting angle view. Designed by Short Brothers, this was the RAF's first four-engined bomber entering service in 1941. Pilots liked its handling characteristics but the altitude ceiling was a matter of criticism and it was relegated to second-line duties in 1943 when the Halifax and Lancaster were available in sufficient numbers. It was subsequently used for mining harbours, as a glider tug and a supply aircraft. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

US Naval Aviation Training Division

1943 Vultee Vengeance World War 2 US airplane

Aeroplane identification poster, 1943 63 x 47 cm A particularly unusual style of aeroplane identification poster, owing to the very arty images. Most such posters rely on very plain silhouettes, this series - and we have several in this series (click here) - have a much more arty approach to the task with shading and an interesting angle view. Designed in 1940 as a single-engined dive bomber for the French Armée de l'Air, with deliveries scheduled for October 1940. With the fall of France in June 1940 the order was cancelled, but the British Royal Air Force ordered 200 of these dive bombers having been impressed by the Stuka. It was a reliable aircraft, stable in flight and in a dive. It was much used in Burma, this forgotten theatre of the war being regarded as a repository for otherwise unpopular and unwanted equipment, but where it proved very effective in bombing Japanese positions. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

US Naval Aviation Training Division

North American Mustang P-51 World War 2 US airplane

Aeroplane identification poster, 1943 63x47cm A particularly unusual style of aeroplane identification poster, owing to the very arty images. Most such posters rely on very plain silhouettes, this series - and we have several in this series (click here) - have a much more arty approach to the task with shading and an interesting angle view. The Mustang is a long-range single-seat fighter/fighter-bomber that saw service during both the Second World War and Korean War. It was designed in 1940 by North American Aviation when they were commissioned to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under licence for the British Royal Air Force. Rather than build an old design, they designed this new aeroplane; the prototype was rolled out 102 days after the contract was signed. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine over 15,000 were built with their most important role being escorting bombers over Germany. During World War II Mustang pilots accounted for a claimed 4,950 enemy aircraft. Today many survive and are a very popular 'warbird'. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.