Wellington Glider tugs..

A quich search of my Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment records show that the following reports were written.
AFEE/T2 dated 19/10/42 Wellington 1c as tug for Hotspurs
AFEE/T5 dated 30/12/42 Wellington III X3286 towing Horsa. Engine cooling tests.
AFEE/T21 dated 11/11/43 Wellington X HE731 towing a Hadrian.
AFEE/T22 dated 16/11/43 Wellington X towing a Horsa.
AFEE/T24 dated 19/11/43 Wellington III X3286 towing a Hadrian

and just to further muddy the waters how about this one.

AFEE/T27 dated 13/12/43 Warwick I BV230 towing a Hadrian

And I take it from the lack of response to my request last year that no one has any photos of Spitfires towing Hotspurs.

I think that British experiments in towing single engined fighters involved a Wellington as tug. Where’s me books…?

Best wishes
Steve P

A Homer moment….

I have plenty of these from time to time.Yes not a Albacore but an Albermarle…I feel so ashamed………….DOH!!!!
Thanks Guys……;)

You know I’ll bet there is a post or two about them supposedly stretching when the glider was attached.

Didn’t happen.

I think all the aircraft involved showed signs of their glider towing. Even the Dakota suffered in this respect, as those returned to civilian use post war had compatibility problems with Douglas manufactured spares ie: not fitting!

Nobody knows the exact length of the Wellington.:D 😀

Cees

While doing some research for a friend he asked me if Wellingtons were used as glider tugs from 1944 onwards.I know in Market Garden the had to use any available aircraft but were they used before hand..Cheers…

The Pilots Notes for the Horsa I, dated January 1944 includes appendices for tug aircraft. Two marks of Wellington could be employed as tugs, the Mark III at up to 28,300 lbs and the Mark X which was cleared up to 30,550 lbs. Other types used for glider towing were the Whitley (no mark mentioned), Halifax II up to 47,000 lbs and the V up to 54,300 lbs, the Albemarle (no mark mentioned),Lancaster I & III 47,000 lbs and II at 48,100 lbs, (but these could be extended to 57,000 & 48,100 lbs), Dakota (C-47, C-47A & C-53), Stirling III & IV and the Hudson.
The Hamilcar PNs mention only the Halifax, Lancaster and Stirling as suitable tug aircraft.

Don’t forget…

The A. W. Albermarle GT.II (is this what you meant when you mention ‘Albacore’?) and the Whitley (mainly for training though).

Chris

Been trying to find the special code for them….

Wasn,t it called the Wellington Mk II “Slinkey”,otherwise known as the “Flying Accordian”?…..
Cheers mate.Thought that was the case and that the Hallifax,Stirling,Albacores and C47,s did all the work.A virtual beer for you mate….;)

You know I’ll bet there is a post or two about them supposedly stretching when the glider was attached.

Didn’t happen.