Wellington MK 1A

From Wellington in action Squadron/Signal publications

" The battle of Heligoland Bight, or the Massacre of Heligoland Bight, depending on one´s point of view, was traumatic for Bomber Command, pointing up almost every defect in both equipment and tactics. The limited traverse of the nose gun turrets to less than ninety degrees when combined with the absence of beam weapons permitted the Luftwaffe fighters to attack almost with impunity from above at the midship angle. The fighter´s angle of attack often did not permit the Wellington gunners to even sight their adversaries. Even when the gun turrets could be brought to bear on the enemy the superior range and hitting power of the heavier weapons of the German fighters put the bombers at a tremendous disadvantage. Furthermore, the ventral turret of the Wellington slowed it down almost fifteen mph, just when maximum speed was of paramount importance."

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