Were Whitleys built at Whitley?

Flitzerfalke: the book is “British Military Aircraft Serials 1912-1966” by Bruce Robertson, so it lists all military aircraft of the British services, even if made abroad. So if a Canadian made aircraft of British design was in the RAF, RN etc, it would be in it.

– with the possible exception of a 3 bay flight shed (late 1920s/early 30s)

Visible on the 1945 Google Earth image & also the most recent.

Does the Robertson’s Aircraft Serials include Canadian manufactured aircraft of British design?

Thanks Elliott. So we are linked through Whitley (Abbey) and St Thomas’s (see what I mean?). I wonder if my cousins kept any pieces …

Yes, the prototype Whitley was built at Whitley Abbey

There is this photo from the Royal Aeronautical Society showing a production line. K9029 is clearly visible. I’ve searched for records of when and where it was assembled, without success, and can’t find that information in Robertson’s Aircraft Serials. Does anyone know where I might find it?
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Thanks for that RPS. I shall assume my cousins worked at Baginton, but maybe at Whitley! In 1939 who can be sure?
Nice to have some family involved in probable Whitley production just before the war.

I believe the prototype and several early production aircraft were built at Whitley Abbey.

Whitley Abbey is now a district of Coventry but the “Abbey” part is rarely used – except when referring to Whitley Abbey Comprehensive.School (built in the 1950/60s).

Originally built during WW1 as an Aircraft Acceptance Park to receive some of the thousands of aircraft built in Coventry’s factories. The main structures were 3 pairs of Belfast hangars. About 90% of the buildings have gone – with the possible exception of a 3 bay flight shed (late 1920s/early 30s) The site remained part of Hawker-Siddeley until the ”butchering’ at the time of TSR-2s demise ( the Baginton AWA factory at nearby Coventry Airport (where most of the AW Whitleys were built) also suffered clusure with the cancellation of the HS.681) and it is now part of the Jaguar/Land Rover company. The airfield itself was also home to The Coventry Aeroplane Club and the SE5a (which is now part of the Shuttleworth Collection) between the ‘Wars.

Roger Smith.

Thanks Consul. I have been ferreting more deeply and just saw this in Wikipedia:

Production was initially at three factories in Coventry; fuselages and detailed components were fabricated at Whitley Abbey, panel-beating and much of the detailed work at the former Coventry Ordnance Works factory, while wing fabrication and final assembly took placed at Baginton Aerodrome.

I missed it before asking my question. This suggests that components were built just outside Baginton and then final assembly done there. BTW I’ve not heard of Whitley ABBEY before. The photos of the production line that I have seen on line (virtually complete airframes having engines fitted) must be at Baginton then. Whatever, cycling to Whitley or Baginton would not have been much different for my cousins. I wonder what bits they “assembled”.

AWA had moved their main facilities to Baginton before production of Whitley bombers began and all were constructed there.