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

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 In 1942 it was superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster.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 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Whitley AD671, V
s/n AD671
m/d AW 38
AD 671
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley AD675, V
s/n AD675
m/d AW 38
AD 675
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley AD685, V
s/n AD685
m/d AW 38
AD 685
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley AD689, V
s/n AD689
m/d AW 38
AD 689
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley AD697, V
s/n AD697
m/d AW 38
AD 697
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley AD701, V
s/n AD701
m/d AW 38
AD 701
last update: 2025-March-10






Whitley AD712, V
s/n AD712
m/d AW 38
AD 712
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley AD714, V
s/n AD714
m/d AW 38
AD 714
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD195, Mk. V
s/n BD195
m/d AW 38
BD 195
Whitley BD210, Mk. V
s/n BD210
m/d AW 38
BD 210
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD212, Mk. V
s/n BD212
m/d AW 38
BD 212
Whitley BD213, Mk. V
s/n BD213
m/d AW 38
BD 213
Whitley BD232, Mk. V
s/n BD232
m/d AW 38
BD 232
Whitley BD257, Mk. V
s/n BD257
m/d AW 38
BD 257
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD266, Mk. V
s/n BD266
m/d AW 38
BD 266
Whitley BD267, Mk. V
s/n BD267
m/d AW 38
BD 267
Whitley BD276, Mk. V
s/n BD276
m/d AW 38
BD 276
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD281, Mk. V
s/n BD281
m/d AW 38
BD 281
Whitley BD282, Mk. V
s/n BD282
m/d AW 38
BD 282
Whitley BD290, Mk. V
s/n BD290
m/d AW 38
BD 290
Whitley BD293, Mk. V
s/n BD293
m/d AW 38
BD 293
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD349, Mk. V
s/n BD349
m/d AW 38
BD 349
Whitley BD358, Mk. V
s/n BD358
m/d AW 38
BD 358
Whitley BD359, Mk. V
s/n BD359
m/d AW 38
BD 359
Whitley BD368, Mk. V
s/n BD368
m/d AW 38
BD 368
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley BD378, Mk. V
s/n BD378
m/d AW 38
BD 378
Whitley BD414, Mk. V
s/n BD414
m/d AW 38
BD 414
Whitley BD420, Mk. V
s/n BD420
m/d AW 38
BD 420
Whitley BD428, Mk. VII
s/n BD428
m/d AW 38
BD 428
Whitley BD438, Mk. V
s/n BD438
m/d AW 38
BD 438
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD442, Mk. V
s/n BD442
m/d AW 38
BD 442
Whitley BD536, Mk. V
s/n BD536
m/d AW 38
BD 536
Whitley BD538, Mk. V
s/n BD538
m/d AW 38
BD 538
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD543, Mk. V
s/n BD543
m/d AW 38
BD 543
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD564, Mk. VII
s/n BD564
m/d AW 38
BD 564
Whitley BD627, Mk. V
s/n BD627
m/d AW 38
BD 627
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley BD681, Mk. VII
s/n BD681
m/d AW 38
BD 681
Whitley BD683, Mk. VII
s/n BD683
m/d AW 38
BD 683
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley EB338,
Whitley EB347,
s/n EB347
EB 347
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley EB348,
s/n EB348
EB 348
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley EB349,
s/n EB349
EB 349
Whitley EB384,
s/n EB384
EB 384
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley EB387,
s/n EB387
EB 387
Whitley EB404,
s/n EB404
EB 404
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley K7255, Mk. II
s/n K7255
m/d AW 38
K 7255
Whitley K8950,
s/n K8950
K 8950
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley K8957,
s/n K8957
K 8957
Whitley K9048,
s/n K9048
K 9048
Whitley LA766, MK. V
s/n LA766
LA 766
Whitley LA784, MK. V
s/n LA784
LA 784
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley LA814, MK. Vll
s/n LA814
LA 814
Whitley LA831, MK. V
s/n LA831
LA 831
Whitley LA836, MK. V
s/n LA836
LA 836
Whitley LA841, MK. V
s/n LA841
LA 841
Whitley LA853, MK. V
s/n LA853
LA 853
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley LA877, MK. V
s/n LA877
LA 877
Whitley LA879, MK. V
s/n LA879
LA 879
Whitley LA882, MK. V
s/n LA882
LA 882
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley LA937, MK. V
s/n LA937
LA 937
Whitley N1357, Mk. V
s/n N1357
m/d AW 38
N 1357
Whitley N1361, Mk. V
s/n N1361
m/d AW 38
N 1361
Whitley N1376, Mk. V
s/n N1376
m/d AW 38
N 1376
Whitley N1379, Mk. V
s/n N1379
m/d AW 38
N 1379
Whitley N1390, Mk. V
s/n N1390
m/d AW 38
N 1390
Whitley N1393, Mk. V
s/n N1393
m/d AW 38
N 1393
Whitley N1405, Mk. V
s/n N1405
m/d AW 38
N 1405
Whitley N1426, Mk. V
s/n N1426
m/d AW 38
N 1426
Whitley N1430, Mk. V
s/n N1430
m/d AW 38
N 1430
Whitley N1434, Mk. V
s/n N1434
m/d AW 38
N 1434
Whitley N1439, Mk. V
s/n N1439
m/d AW 38
N 1439
Whitley N1442, Mk. V
s/n N1442
m/d AW 38
N 1442
Whitley N1460, Mk. V
s/n N1460
m/d AW 38
N 1460
Whitley N1470, Mk. V
s/n N1470
m/d AW 38
N 1470
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley N1474, Mk. V
s/n N1474
m/d AW 38
N 1474
Whitley N1478, Mk. V
s/n N1478
m/d AW 38
N 1478
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley N1505, Mk. V
s/n N1505
m/d AW 38
N 1505
Whitley N1522, Mk. V
s/n N1522
m/d AW 38
N 1522
Whitley P4931, MK. V
Whitley P4936, MK. V
s/n P4936
P 4936
Whitley P4940, MK. V
Whitley P4944, MK. V
s/n P4944
P 4944
Whitley P4964, MK. V
s/n P4964
P 4964
Whitley P4982, Mk. V
s/n P4982
Armstrong Whitworth
P 4982
Whitley P4992, Mk. V
s/n P4992
P 4992
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley P4994,
s/n P4994
P 4994
Whitley P4996, Mk. V
s/n P4996
Armstrong Whitworth
P 4996
Whitley P5005, MK. V
s/n P5005
P 5005
Whitley P5051, MK. V
s/n P5051
P 5051
Whitley P5057, MK. V
s/n P5057
P 5057
Whitley P5076, MK. V
Whitley P5083, MK. V
Whitley P5100, MK. V
s/n P5100
P 5100
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley P5101, MK. V
s/n P5101
P 5101
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley P5102, MK. V
s/n P5102
P 5102
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley P5103, MK. V
s/n P5103
P 5103
Whitley P5109, MK. V
s/n P5109
P 5109
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley T4166, Mk. V
s/n T4166
T 4166
Whitley T4209, MK. V
s/n T4209
T 4209
Whitley T4231, Mk. V
s/n T4231
T 4231
Whitley T4233, MK. V
s/n T4233
T 4233
Whitley T4234, MK. V
s/n T4234
T 4234
Whitley T4265, MK. V
Whitley T4279, MK. V
s/n T4279
T 4279
Whitley T4296, MK. V
s/n T4296
T 4296
Whitley T4323, MK. V
Whitley T4333, MK. V
s/n T4333
T 4333
last update: 2025-March-10




Whitley T4337, MK. V
s/n T4337
T 4337
Whitley T4339, MK. V
Whitley Z6476, V
s/n Z6476
m/d AW 38
Z 6476
Whitley Z6478, V
s/n Z6478
m/d AW 38
Z 6478
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6479, V
s/n Z6479
m/d AW 38
Z 6479
Whitley Z6484, V
s/n Z6484
m/d AW 38
Z 6484
Whitley Z6505, V
s/n Z6505
m/d AW 38
Z 6505
Whitley Z6506, V
s/n Z6506
m/d AW 38
Z 6506
Whitley Z6507, V
s/n Z6507
m/d AW 38
Z 6507
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6508, V
s/n Z6508
m/d AW 38
Z 6508
Whitley Z6554, V
s/n Z6554
m/d AW 38
Z 6554
Whitley Z6555, V
s/n Z6555
m/d AW 38
Z 6555
Whitley Z6556, V
s/n Z6556
m/d AW 38
Z 6556
Whitley Z6564, V
s/n Z6564
m/d AW 38
Z 6564
Whitley Z6566, V
s/n Z6566
m/d AW 38
Z 6566
last update: 2025-March-10
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 Z6569, V
s/n Z6569
m/d AW 38
Z 6569
Whitley Z6571, V
s/n Z6571
m/d AW 38
Z 6571
Whitley Z6573, V
s/n Z6573
m/d AW 38
Z 6573
Whitley Z6574, V
s/n Z6574
m/d AW 38
Z 6574
Whitley Z6576, V
s/n Z6576
m/d AW 38
Z 6576
Whitley Z6577, V
s/n Z6577
m/d AW 38
Z 6577
Whitley Z6579, V
s/n Z6579
m/d AW 38
Z 6579
Whitley Z6581, V
s/n Z6581
m/d AW 38
Z 6581
Whitley Z6586, V
s/n Z6586
m/d AW 38
Z 6586
Whitley Z6628, V
s/n Z6628
m/d AW 38
Z 6628
Whitley Z6629, V
s/n Z6629
m/d AW 38
Z 6629
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6639, V
s/n Z6639
m/d AW 38
Z 6639
Whitley Z6642, V
s/n Z6642
m/d AW 38
Z 6642
Whitley Z6657, V
s/n Z6657
m/d AW 38
Z 6657
Whitley Z6667, V
s/n Z6667
m/d AW 38
Z 6667
Whitley Z6668, V
s/n Z6668
m/d AW 38
Z 6668
Whitley Z6671, V
s/n Z6671
m/d AW 38
Z 6671
Whitley Z6672, V
s/n Z6672
m/d AW 38
Z 6672
Whitley Z6730, V
s/n Z6730
m/d AW 38
Z 6730
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6731, V
s/n Z6731
m/d AW 38
Z 6731
Whitley Z6733, V
s/n Z6733
m/d AW 38
Z 6733
Whitley Z6740, V
s/n Z6740
m/d AW 38
Z 6740
Whitley Z6742, V
s/n Z6742
m/d AW 38
Z 6742
Whitley Z6744, V
s/n Z6744
m/d AW 38
Z 6744
Whitley Z6750, V
s/n Z6750
m/d AW 38
Z 6750
Whitley Z6754, V
s/n Z6754
m/d AW 38
Z 6754
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6760, V
s/n Z6760
m/d AW 38
Z 6760
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6794, V
s/n Z6794
m/d AW 38
Z 6794
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley Z6795, V
s/n Z6795
m/d AW 38
Z 6795
Whitley Z6796, V
s/n Z6796
m/d AW 38
Z 6796
Whitley Z6801, V
s/n Z6801
m/d AW 38
Z 6801
Whitley Z6803, V
s/n Z6803
m/d AW 38
Z 6803
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6805, V
s/n Z6805
m/d AW 38
Z 6805
Whitley Z6811, V
s/n Z6811
m/d AW 38
Z 6811
Whitley Z6815, V
s/n Z6815
m/d AW 38
Z 6815
Whitley Z6816, V
s/n Z6816
m/d AW 38
Z 6816
Whitley Z6818, V
s/n Z6818
m/d AW 38
Z 6818
Whitley Z6824, V
s/n Z6824
m/d AW 38
Z 6824
Whitley Z6826, V
s/n Z6826
m/d AW 38
Z 6826
Whitley Z6829, V
s/n Z6829
m/d AW 38
Z 6829
Whitley Z6837, V
s/n Z6837
m/d AW 38
Z 6837
Whitley Z6839, V
s/n Z6839
m/d AW 38
Z 6839
Whitley Z6841, V
s/n Z6841
m/d AW 38
Z 6841
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6862, V
s/n Z6862
m/d AW 38
Z 6862
Whitley Z6864, V
s/n Z6864
m/d AW 38
Z 6864
Whitley Z6870, V
s/n Z6870
m/d AW 38
Z 6870
Whitley Z6871, V
s/n Z6871
m/d AW 38
Z 6871
Whitley Z6874, V
s/n Z6874
m/d AW 38
Z 6874
Whitley Z6877, V
s/n Z6877
m/d AW 38
Z 6877
Whitley Z6878, V
s/n Z6878
m/d AW 38
Z 6878
Whitley Z6879, V
s/n Z6879
m/d AW 38
Z 6879
Whitley Z6932, V
s/n Z6932
m/d AW 38
Z 6932
Whitley Z6933, V
s/n Z6933
m/d AW 38
Z 6933
Whitley Z6934, V
s/n Z6934
m/d AW 38
Z 6934
Whitley Z6936, V
s/n Z6936
m/d AW 38
Z 6936
Whitley Z6940, V
s/n Z6940
m/d AW 38
Z 6940
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6942, V
s/n Z6942
m/d AW 38
Z 6942
Whitley Z6944, V
s/n Z6944
m/d AW 38
Z 6944
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6946, V
s/n Z6946
m/d AW 38
Z 6946
last update: 2025-March-10




Whitley Z6950, V
s/n Z6950
m/d AW 38
Z 6950
Whitley Z6951, V
s/n Z6951
m/d AW 38
Z 6951
Whitley Z6953, V
s/n Z6953
m/d AW 38
Z 6953
Whitley Z6956, V
s/n Z6956
m/d AW 38
Z 6956
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6957, V
s/n Z6957
m/d AW 38
Z 6957
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6970, V
s/n Z6970
m/d AW 38
Z 6970
Whitley Z6972, V
s/n Z6972
m/d AW 38
Z 6972
Whitley Z6973, V
s/n Z6973
m/d AW 38
Z 6973
Whitley Z6974, V
s/n Z6974
m/d AW 38
Z 6974
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z6975, V
s/n Z6975
m/d AW 38
Z 6975
Whitley Z9017,
s/n Z9017
Z 9017
Whitley Z9128, MK. V
s/n Z9128
Z 9128
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9130, Mk. V
s/n Z9130
Z 9130
Whitley Z9141, Mk. V
s/n Z9141
Z 9141
Whitley Z9150, Mk. V
s/n Z9150
Z 9150
Whitley Z9151, Mk. V
s/n Z9151
Z 9151
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9154, Mk. V
s/n Z9154
Z 9154
Whitley Z9155, Mk. V
s/n Z9155
Z 9155
Whitley Z9158, Mk. V
s/n Z9158
Z 9158
Whitley Z9159, Mk. V
s/n Z9159
Z 9159
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9163, Mk. V
s/n Z9163
Z 9163
last update: 2025-March-10





Whitley Z9164, Mk. V
s/n Z9164
Z 9164
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9192, Mk. V
s/n Z9192
Z 9192
Whitley Z9202, Mk. V
s/n Z9202
Z 9202
Whitley Z9209, Mk. V
s/n Z9209
Z 9209
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9210, Mk. V
s/n Z9210
Z 9210
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9212, Mk. V
s/n Z9212
Z 9212
Whitley Z9215, Mk. V
s/n Z9215
Z 9215
Whitley Z9220, Mk. V
s/n Z9220
Z 9220
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9226, Mk. V
s/n Z9226
Z 9226
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9229, Mk. V
s/n Z9229
Z 9229
Whitley Z9231, Mk. V
s/n Z9231
Armstrong Whitworth
Z 9231
Whitley Z9279, Mk. V
s/n Z9279
Z 9279
Whitley Z9283, Mk. V
s/n Z9283
Z 9283
Whitley Z9289, Mk. V
s/n Z9289
Z 9289
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9294, Mk. V
s/n Z9294
Z 9294
Whitley Z9299, Mk. V
s/n Z9299
Z 9299
Whitley Z9305, Mk. V
s/n Z9305
Z 9305
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9306, Mk. V
s/n Z9306
Z 9306
Whitley Z9307, Mk. V
s/n Z9307
Z 9307
Whitley Z9312, Mk. V
s/n Z9312
Z 9312
Whitley Z9315, Mk. V
s/n Z9315
Z 9315
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9365, Mk. V
s/n Z9365
Z 9365
Whitley Z9385, Mk. V
s/n Z9385
Z 9385
Whitley Z9386, Mk. V
s/n Z9386
Z 9386
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9388, Mk. V
s/n Z9388
Z 9388
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-05Whitley Z9423, Mk. V
s/n Z9423
Z 9423
Whitley Z9424, Mk. V
s/n Z9424
Z 9424
Whitley Z9426,
s/n Z9426
Z 9426
Whitley Z9428, Mk. V
Whitley Z9440,
s/n Z9440
Z 9440
Whitley Z9441, Mk. V
s/n Z9441
Z 9441
Whitley Z9442,
s/n Z9442
Z 9442
Whitley Z9461, Mk. V
s/n Z9461
Z 9461
Whitley Z9465,
s/n Z9465
Armstrong Whitworth
Z 9465
Whitley Z9470, Mk. V
s/n Z9470
Z 9470
Whitley Z9472, Mk. V
s/n Z9472
Z 9472
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9477,
s/n Z9477
Armstrong Whitworth
Z 9477
Whitley Z9512, Mk. V
Whitley Z9515,
s/n Z9515
Z 9515
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9517,
s/n Z9517
Z 9517
Whitley Z9518, Mk. V
s/n Z9518
Z 9518
last update: 2025-March-10
Whitley Z9522, Mk. V
s/n Z9522
Z 9522
Whitley Z9525, Mk. V
s/n Z9525
Z 9525