Bombs Away !

November 2010

The last surviving Wellington bomber of the Second World War was recently transported by Hallett Silbermann from the RAF Museum at Hendon, north west London to the RAF Museum at Cosford, Shropshire to undergo extensive restoration over the next four to five years.

Click images to enlarge

Although over 11,000 of these famous bombers were built during the war, this is the only one that remains in its original condition. It featured in the 1955 film The Dambusters. The fuselage was built using a geodetic type construction (a spirally crossing basket-weave of load-bearing members) which was developed by Barnes Wallis, the legendary designer who created the 'bouncing bomb' which was, of course, also the subject of this classic film. The revolutionary design ensured that the aircraft structure could sustain considerable damage whilst still maintaining integrity and airworthiness, as a result of which, no doubt, many aircrew were eternally grateful!

Ironically, this proud survivor from the war made its final journey safely in its cradle atop an extendable semi low loader being pulled by a Hallett Silbermann German built MAN tractor unit !