ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH AW.38
WHITLEY - The Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley was designed under the direc-tion of J Lloyd to the
requirements of Specification B.3/34 for a five-seat 'heavy bomber' replacement
for the Heyford and Hendon, to carry a 2,500-lb (1,135-kg) bomb load over
1,250 mis (2,010 km) at 225 mph (362 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,575 m). First
of two prototypes (K4586) with 795 hp Tiger IX engines flown at Whitley,
Coventry, aerodrome on March 17, 1936. Second prototype (K.4587) with
Tiger XIs flown February 11, 1937.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley I: First contract for 80 Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley Mk Is placed 'off the drawing board' in June 1935. First
example flown December 23, 1936; deliveries to No 10 Sqn, RAF, on March
9, later to Nos 51 and 78 Sqns. Tiger IX engines; armament of single 0.303-in
(7.7-mm) Lewis gun each in front (AW. or Nash and Thompson) and rear
(AW.) manual turrets. Production termi-nated at 34th aircraft.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley II: Final 46 aircraft on initial contract
completed with 920 hp Tiger VIIIs with two-speed superchargers, to Specification
B.21/35. Deliveries mid-1938, to Nos 7, 51, 58 and 97 Sqns. One Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley II (K7243) test-bed for AS Deerhound 21-cyl air-cooled
radial engine, flown Jan 1939-March 1940.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley III: Second production batch of 80,
to Specification B.20/36, similar to Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk II
but with powered Nash and Thompson single-gun nose turret and retractable
ventral 'dustbin' turret with two O.303-in (7.7-mm) Brownings. Bomb-bay
and racks modified for larger bombs. Deliveries second half of 1938 to
replace Mk Is and Us and also to Nos 77, 97, 102 and 166 Sqns. Early marks
of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley from Nos 51 and 58 Sqns flew first RAF
Nickel (leaflet) raid over Germany on night of September 3/4, 1939.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley IV: Final 40 aircraft on second production
contract (additional to 80 Mk Ills) fitted with Merlin in-line engines
and extra fuel tanks. Prototype (converted Mk I K7208) first flown at
Hucknall on February 11, 1938; first production Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
IV flown on April 5, 1939 with Merlin IVs; final seven aircraft had 1,070
hp Merlin Xs and designated Armstrong Whitworth Whitley IVA.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V: Contracts placed in 1938 for 312,
in 1939 for 150 and in 1940 for 1,150 Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys, of
which 1,466 completed as Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V and 146 as Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley Mk VII (see below). As Mk IV with Nash and Thompson
powered tail turret mounting four 0.303-in (7.7-mm) Browning guns; 15-in
(38.1-cm) rear fuselage extension to improve rear gunner's field of fire;
modified fin shape; wing leading-edge rubber de-icers and fuel capacity
increased to 837 Imp gal (3,805 1). First production Mk V flown August
8, 1939, and initial deliveries to No 77 Sqn in September. Many Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley Vs (and some earlier marks) used as glider tugs, with
towing gear in place of rear turret or fitted beneath rear fuselage, and
as para-troop transports; also used to drop agents into occupied territory.
Fifteen Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk Vs transferred (with civil registrations)
to BOAC for Gibraltar-Malta supply flights, 1942/43.
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley VII: Total of 146 Armstrong Whitworth
Whitley Mk VII built on final production contract, plus some Mk V conversions,
to serve with Coastal Command squadrons on maritime reconnaissance duties,
carrying ASV Mk II radar (with four dorsal radar masts plus lat-eral and
underwing aerials), sixth crew member and extra fuel in bomb bay and fuselage
to a total of 1,100 Imp gal (5,000 1) for a range of 2,300 mis (3,700
km). Initial CC squadrons were Nos 502 (GR) and 612 (GR), using standard
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Vs from 1940 and 1941 respectively, with Armstrong
Whitworth Whitley VIIs introduced 1942.
