Whitley (Total: 984, Canadian: 245, Group 0)

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (RAF Photo)

The Armstrong Whitworth AW 38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engined, front line bomber types that were in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the outbreak of the Second World War. Alongside the Vickers Wellington and the Handley Page Hampden, the Whitley was developed during the mid-1930s according to Air Ministry Specification B.3/34, which it was subsequently selected to meet. In 1937, the Whitley formally entered into RAF squadron service; it was the first of the three medium bombers to be introduced. Following the outbreak of war in September 1939, the Whitley participated in the first RAF bombing raid upon German territory and remained an integral part of the early British bomber offensive. In 1942 it was superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. Its front line service included maritime reconnaissance with Coastal Command and the second line roles of glider-tug, trainer and transport aircraft. The type was also procured by British Overseas Airways Corporation as a civilian freighter aircraft. The aircraft was named after Whitley, a suburb of Coventry, home of one of Armstrong Whitworth's plants.

John Lloyd, the Chief Designer of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, selected the Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IX radial engine to power the Whitley, which was capable of generating 795 hp (593 kW). One of the more innovative features of the Whitley's design was the adoption of a three-bladed two-position variable-pitch propeller built by de Havilland; the Whitley was the first aircraft to fly with such an arrangement. Lloyd was unfamiliar with the use of flaps on a large heavy monoplane, they were initially omitted from the design. To compensate, the mid-set wings were set at a high angle of incidence (8.5°) to confer good take-off and landing performance. Although flaps were included late in the design stage, the wing remained unaltered; as a result, the Whitley flew with a pronounced nose-down attitude when at cruising speed, resulting in considerable drag. The Whitley holds the distinction of having been the first RAF aircraft with a semi-monocoque fuselage, which was built using a slab-sided structure to ease production. This replaced the tubular construction method traditionally employed by Armstrong Whitworth, who instead constructed the airframe from light-alloy rolled sections, pressings and corrugated sheets.

The Whitley had a crew of five: a pilot, co-pilot/navigator, a bomb aimer, a wireless operator and a rear gunner. The pilot and second pilot/navigator sat side by side in the cockpit, with the wireless operator further back. The navigator, his seat mounted on rails and able to pivot, slid backwards and rotated to the left to use the chart table behind him after takeoff. The bomb aimer position was in the nose with a gun turret located directly above. The fuselage aft of the wireless operator was divided horizontally by the bomb bay; behind the bomb bay was the main entrance and aft of that the rear turret. The offensive armaments were stowed in two bomb bays housed within the fuselage, along with a further 14 smaller cells in the wing. Other sources state there were 16 "cells" total: two groups of 2 in the fuselage, and four groups of 3 in the wings, plus two smaller cells for parachute flares in the rear fuselage. Bomb racks capable of holding larger bombs were installed on the Whitley Mk III variant. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

YouTube YouTube Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Whitley V serial AD671

s/n AD671

m/d AW 38

AD 671

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01
   1942-January Taken on Strength 2019-08-20

Whitley V serial AD689

s/n AD689

m/d AW 38

AD 689

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01
   1942-January Taken on Strength 2019-08-20

Whitley V serial AD697

s/n AD697

m/d AW 38

AD 697

Whitley V serial AD714

s/n AD714

m/d AW 38

AD 714

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01
   1942-January Taken on Strength 2019-08-20

Whitley Mk. V serial BD195

Whitley Mk. V serial BD210

s/n BD210

m/d AW 38

BD 210

Whitley Mk. V serial BD212

Whitley Mk. V serial BD213

s/n BD213

m/d AW 38

BD 213

Whitley Mk. V serial BD232

s/n BD232

m/d AW 38

BD 232

Whitley Mk. V serial BD257

s/n BD257

m/d AW 38

BD 257

Whitley Mk. V serial BD276

s/n BD276

m/d AW 38

BD 276

Whitley Mk. V serial BD281

s/n BD281

m/d AW 38

BD 281

Whitley Mk. V serial BD282

s/n BD282

m/d AW 38

BD 282

Whitley Mk. V serial BD293

s/n BD293

m/d AW 38

BD 293

Whitley Mk. V serial BD349

s/n BD349

m/d AW 38

BD 349

Whitley Mk. V serial BD358

s/n BD358

m/d AW 38

BD 358

Known Units: ;24


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial BD359

s/n BD359

m/d AW 38

BD 359

Known Units: ;19;10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial BD378

s/n BD378

m/d AW 38

BD 378

Whitley Mk. V serial BD420

s/n BD420

m/d AW 38

BD 420

Whitley Mk. V serial BD438

s/n BD438

m/d AW 38

BD 438

Whitley Mk. V serial BD442

s/n BD442

m/d AW 38

BD 442

Known Units: ;24


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial BD536

Whitley Mk. V serial BD538

s/n BD538

m/d AW 38

BD 538

Whitley Mk. V serial BD543

s/n BD543

m/d AW 38

BD 543

Whitley Mk. VII serial BD564

s/n BD564

m/d AW 38

BD 564

Whitley Mk. V serial BD627

s/n BD627

m/d AW 38

BD 627

Whitley Mk. VII serial BD681

s/n BD681

m/d AW 38

BD 681

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. VII serial BD683

s/n BD683

m/d AW 38

BD 683

Whitley serial EB338

s/n EB338

EB 338

Known Units: 81 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley serial EB349

s/n EB349

EB 349

Known Units: 24 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley serial EB387

s/n EB387

EB 387

Known Units: 19 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley serial EB404

s/n EB404

EB 404

Whitley Mk. II serial K7255

s/n K7255

m/d AW 38

K 7255

Whitley serial K8950

s/n K8950

K 8950

Whitley serial K8957

s/n K8957

K 8957

Whitley MK. V serial LA784

s/n LA784

LA 784

Whitley MK. V serial LA831

s/n LA831

LA 831

Known Units: 81 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial LA836

s/n LA836

LA 836

Known Units: 19 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial LA841

s/n LA841

LA 841

Known Units: 19 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial LA853

s/n LA853

LA 853

Whitley MK. V serial LA877

Whitley MK. V serial LA879

s/n LA879

LA 879

Whitley MK. V serial LA882

s/n LA882

LA 882

Whitley Mk. V serial N1357

s/n N1357

m/d AW 38

N 1357

Known Units: ;77


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial N1361

s/n N1361

m/d AW 38

N 1361

Known Units: ;78


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial N1376

s/n N1376

m/d AW 38

N 1376

Whitley Mk. V serial N1379

Whitley Mk. V serial N1390

s/n N1390

m/d AW 38

N 1390

Whitley Mk. V serial N1393

s/n N1393

m/d AW 38

N 1393

Whitley Mk. V serial N1405

Whitley Mk. V serial N1426

Whitley Mk. V serial N1430

s/n N1430

m/d AW 38

N 1430

Whitley Mk. V serial N1434

s/n N1434

m/d AW 38

N 1434

Whitley Mk. V serial N1439

Whitley Mk. V serial N1442

Whitley Mk. V serial N1460

s/n N1460

m/d AW 38

N 1460

Whitley Mk. V serial N1470

s/n N1470

m/d AW 38

N 1470

Whitley Mk. V serial N1474

s/n N1474

m/d AW 38

N 1474

Whitley Mk. V serial N1478

s/n N1478

m/d AW 38

N 1478

Whitley Mk. V serial N1505

Whitley Mk. V serial N1522

s/n N1522

m/d AW 38

N 1522

Whitley MK. V serial P4936

s/n P4936

P 4936

Whitley MK. V serial P4944

s/n P4944

P 4944

Known Units: 10 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial P4964

s/n P4964

P 4964

Known Units: 78


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial P4982

Whitley Mk. V serial P4992

s/n P4992

P 4992

Whitley serial P4994

s/n P4994

P 4994

Whitley Mk. V serial P4996

s/n P4996

Armstrong Whitworth

P 4996

Whitley MK. V serial P5005

s/n P5005

P 5005

Known Units: 19 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial P5051

Whitley MK. V serial P5057

Whitley MK. V serial P5100

s/n P5100

P 5100

Whitley MK. V serial P5101

s/n P5101

P 5101

Whitley MK. V serial P5103

s/n P5103

P 5103

Known Units: 19 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial P5109

s/n P5109

P 5109

Whitley Mk. V serial T4166

s/n T4166

T 4166

Whitley MK. V serial T4209

s/n T4209

T 4209

Known Units: 78


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial T4231

s/n T4231

T 4231

Whitley MK. V serial T4233

s/n T4233

T 4233

Whitley MK. V serial T4234

s/n T4234

T 4234

Whitley MK. V serial T4265

s/n T4265

T 4265

Known Units: 10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley MK. V serial T4279

s/n T4279

T 4279

Whitley MK. V serial T4296

s/n T4296

T 4296

Whitley V serial Z6476

s/n Z6476

m/d AW 38

Z 6476

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6478

s/n Z6478

m/d AW 38

Z 6478

Whitley V serial Z6479

s/n Z6479

m/d AW 38

Z 6479

Whitley V serial Z6484

s/n Z6484

m/d AW 38

Z 6484

Known Units: ;78


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6507

s/n Z6507

m/d AW 38

Z 6507

Whitley V serial Z6508

s/n Z6508

m/d AW 38

Z 6508

Known Units: ;78


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6554

s/n Z6554

m/d AW 38

Z 6554

Whitley V serial Z6555

s/n Z6555

m/d AW 38

Z 6555

Whitley V serial Z6556

s/n Z6556

m/d AW 38

Z 6556

Whitley V serial Z6564

Whitley V serial Z6566

s/n Z6566

m/d AW 38

MH RAF Roundel Q

Z 6566

Known Units: ;51


last update: 2025-June-01

Bombing Cologne Germany 1941-08-18 to 1941-08-19

51 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Dishforth, North Yorkshire

From Nation archives in Britain

Sergeant D A Switzer (RCAF), Sergeant W B James (RCAF), Sergeant C D Roberts, Sergeant A G Lowe, Sergeant H R Janes: prisoners of war; aircraft shot down and crashed near Cologne, Germany, Whitley Z6566, 51 Squadron, 19 August 1941

Whitley V serial Z6569

Whitley V serial Z6571

s/n Z6571

m/d AW 38

Z 6571

Known Units: ;78


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6573

s/n Z6573

m/d AW 38

Z 6573

Known Units: ;102


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6574

Whitley V serial Z6576

s/n Z6576

m/d AW 38

Z 6576

Known Units: ;102


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6577

Whitley V serial Z6579

s/n Z6579

m/d AW 38

Z 6579

Whitley V serial Z6581

s/n Z6581

m/d AW 38

Z 6581

Whitley V serial Z6586

s/n Z6586

m/d AW 38

Z 6586

Whitley V serial Z6628

s/n Z6628

m/d AW 38

Z 6628

Known Units: ;19


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6629

s/n Z6629

m/d AW 38

Z 6629

Whitley V serial Z6639

Whitley V serial Z6642

s/n Z6642

m/d AW 38

Z 6642

Whitley V serial Z6657

s/n Z6657

m/d AW 38

Z 6657

Known Units: ;51


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6668

s/n Z6668

m/d AW 38

Z 6668

Known Units: ;77


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6671

s/n Z6671

m/d AW 38

Z 6671

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6672

s/n Z6672

m/d AW 38

Z 6672

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6730

s/n Z6730

m/d AW 38

Z 6730

Whitley V serial Z6731

Whitley V serial Z6733

s/n Z6733

m/d AW 38

Z 6733

Whitley V serial Z6740

s/n Z6740

m/d AW 38

Z 6740

Known Units: ;77


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6742

s/n Z6742

m/d AW 38

Z 6742

Whitley V serial Z6744

s/n Z6744

m/d AW 38

Z 6744

Known Units: ;51


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6750

s/n Z6750

m/d AW 38

Z 6750

Known Units: ;19


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6754

s/n Z6754

m/d AW 38

Z 6754

Whitley V serial Z6760

s/n Z6760

m/d AW 38

Z 6760

Whitley V serial Z6796

s/n Z6796

m/d AW 38

Z 6796

Whitley V serial Z6801

Whitley V serial Z6803

s/n Z6803

m/d AW 38

Z 6803

Whitley V serial Z6805

s/n Z6805

m/d AW 38

Z 6805

Whitley V serial Z6815

s/n Z6815

m/d AW 38

Z 6815

Whitley V serial Z6816

s/n Z6816

m/d AW 38

Z 6816

Known Units: ;10


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6829

s/n Z6829

m/d AW 38

Z 6829

Known Units: ;102


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6841

s/n Z6841

m/d AW 38

Z 6841

Whitley V serial Z6862

s/n Z6862

m/d AW 38

Z 6862

Whitley V serial Z6864

s/n Z6864

m/d AW 38

Z 6864

Known Units: ;102


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6871

s/n Z6871

m/d AW 38

Z 6871

Known Units: ;102


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6877

s/n Z6877

m/d AW 38

Z 6877

Whitley V serial Z6878

s/n Z6878

m/d AW 38

Z 6878

Whitley V serial Z6932

s/n Z6932

m/d AW 38

Z 6932

Whitley V serial Z6933

Whitley V serial Z6936

s/n Z6936

m/d AW 38

Z 6936

Whitley V serial Z6940

s/n Z6940

m/d AW 38

Z 6940

Whitley V serial Z6944

s/n Z6944

m/d AW 38

Z 6944

Whitley V serial Z6950

Whitley V serial Z6951

s/n Z6951

m/d AW 38

Z 6951

Known Units: ;102


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley V serial Z6956

s/n Z6956

m/d AW 38

Z 6956

Whitley V serial Z6957

s/n Z6957

m/d AW 38

Z 6957

Whitley V serial Z6970

s/n Z6970

m/d AW 38

Z 6970

Whitley V serial Z6974

s/n Z6974

m/d AW 38

Z 6974

Whitley MK. V serial Z9128

s/n Z9128

Z 9128

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9141

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9151

s/n Z9151

Z 9151

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9159

s/n Z9159

Z 9159

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9164

s/n Z9164

Z 9164

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9192

s/n Z9192

Z 9192

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9209

s/n Z9209

Z 9209

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9210

s/n Z9210

Z 9210

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9215

s/n Z9215

Z 9215

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9220

s/n Z9220

Z 9220

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9226

s/n Z9226

Z 9226

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9231

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9279

s/n Z9279

Z 9279

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9283

s/n Z9283

Z 9283

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9289

s/n Z9289

Z 9289

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9294

s/n Z9294

Z 9294

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9299

s/n Z9299

Z 9299

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9305

s/n Z9305

Z 9305

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9315

s/n Z9315

Z 9315

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9365

s/n Z9365

Z 9365

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9386

s/n Z9386

Z 9386

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9388

s/n Z9388

Z 9388

Known Units: 58

58 Squadron (Alis Nocturnis). Whitley aircraft Z 9388 had one engine fail and then it crashed in the sea off Bantry Beach, Ireland.

last update: 2025-February-05

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9423

s/n Z9423

Z 9423

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9424

s/n Z9424

Z 9424

Whitley serial Z9426

s/n Z9426

Z 9426

Whitley serial Z9440

s/n Z9440

Z 9440

Whitley serial Z9442

s/n Z9442

Z 9442

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9461

s/n Z9461

Z 9461

Whitley serial Z9465

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9470

s/n Z9470

Z 9470

Known Units: 24 OTU


last update: 2025-June-01

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9472

s/n Z9472

Z 9472

Whitley serial Z9477

s/n Z9477

Armstrong Whitworth

Z 9477

Whitley serial Z9515

s/n Z9515

Z 9515

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9518

s/n Z9518

Z 9518

Whitley Mk. V serial Z9525

s/n Z9525

Z 9525