In June/July 1941 the British sent a Wellington bomber to the United States. It was flown to America via Gander and possibly Prestwick/Renfrew. Its serial was Z8772, sometimes its misidentified as Z8771. It was one of many exchanges such as a Gloster Meteor, a Typhoon, Westland Whirlwind, a Fairey Battle with the Exe engine and a de Havilland Queen Bee (prototype?) etc. The Americans were impressed by the latter so much so that Queen Bee sired the drones.
The Wellington does not seem to have survived into 1943. Would anyone know what happened to it or what was its fate or what tests were made on it? I know it was a Dayton Ohio and was told by a friend that the Americans were interested in producing the type.
By: chaza87 - 21st April 2012 at 11:21
Wellington fate
Just an update guys. The Americans got two Wellingtons, both received in August 1942 but had been scrapped by 1944. They also scrapped the EXE Battle but the engine was returned to the UK. They got a Mosquito, three Beaufighters, a Defiant and three Hotspur gliders. Interestingly enough they got a Lancaster and I’m working on its fate. There is nothing on the Whirlwind seen by Winkle Brown at Pensacola
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March 5, 2012 at 9:00 am