Wellington Visit
Discussion
I'm hoping one of the many knowledgeable people in here might be able to help.
I bought my dad a Lancaster Taxy ride a couple of years ago, which he said was a day he'll never forget; he absolutely loved it!
I was speaking to someone there and we got talking about Wellington's as that is what my granddad worked on during the war, and this chap went on to mention that there is a Wellington you can visit in the UK, and that last he had heard relatives of the personnel who had flown on the bombers during the way were allowed to go on board. Is there any truth in this, and if so, where is it?
Even if it's not true, where can one go and visit the Wellington? I believe there's one at Brooklands, is that the only one?
Thanks in advance.
I bought my dad a Lancaster Taxy ride a couple of years ago, which he said was a day he'll never forget; he absolutely loved it!
I was speaking to someone there and we got talking about Wellington's as that is what my granddad worked on during the war, and this chap went on to mention that there is a Wellington you can visit in the UK, and that last he had heard relatives of the personnel who had flown on the bombers during the way were allowed to go on board. Is there any truth in this, and if so, where is it?
Even if it's not true, where can one go and visit the Wellington? I believe there's one at Brooklands, is that the only one?
Thanks in advance.
Know the one a Brooklands well, but I doubt they'd let anyone on board - its a bit of a skeletal mishmash of newly fabricated geodesic and mangled bits dragged up from the bottom of Loch Ness! There is a nice fuselage of another one which you can get in and walk about, not sure how mobile your dad is but there are steps up and down and internal struts to trip you once you're in. Go to Brooklands anyway - great, enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff and loads of other stuff to see (including a Top Lego Concorde on G-BBDG) ;-o
slybynight said:
Know the one a Brooklands well, but I doubt they'd let anyone on board - its a bit of a skeletal mishmash of newly fabricated geodesic and mangled bits dragged up from the bottom of Loch Ness! There is a nice fuselage of another one which you can get in and walk about, not sure how mobile your dad is but there are steps up and down and internal struts to trip you once you're in. Go to Brooklands anyway - great, enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff and loads of other stuff to see (including a Top Lego Concorde on G-BBDG) ;-o
+1The RAF museum also have a Wellington but it's under restoration at the moment.
Thanks for the responses.
I've been reading into the Brooklands plane and realise how fragile it must be, therefore was hoping he might be able to at least use ladders to view the cockpit or something similar. I suppose I'd just like to personalise the trip for him slightly given the family connection to the plane.
Either way I will definitely be taking him to the museum, it looks a fascinating place!
I've been reading into the Brooklands plane and realise how fragile it must be, therefore was hoping he might be able to at least use ladders to view the cockpit or something similar. I suppose I'd just like to personalise the trip for him slightly given the family connection to the plane.
Either way I will definitely be taking him to the museum, it looks a fascinating place!
The Wellington at Brooklands is "R for Robert" and was recovered from the bottom of Loch Ness in 1985. It is substantially complete but obviously a bit fragile. At Brooklands they have a replica fuselage you can walk through - but it's not as realistic as it could be - probably for health and safety reasons.
The only other existing Wellington is the one that was on display at Hendon. However, it was in dire need of restoration and better preservation work so a few years ago it was dismantled and moved to the RAF Museum's restoration centre at Cosford in Shropshire where it will be a for a few more years. When I saw it there two years ago it was in large pieces awaiting work.
The only other existing Wellington is the one that was on display at Hendon. However, it was in dire need of restoration and better preservation work so a few years ago it was dismantled and moved to the RAF Museum's restoration centre at Cosford in Shropshire where it will be a for a few more years. When I saw it there two years ago it was in large pieces awaiting work.
Is there any reason your dad is particularly interested in the cockpit? Did he work on it? If so, maybe ring in advance & they might be able to hook him up (give the days they are there) with some of the museum staff who have worked on/restored that bit? From memory its quite high up, I wouldn't fancy looking at it while wobbling on a ladder! As for the rest of it, I think she looks much nicer "undressed" - and I guess Brooklands agree, as they show off most of her lovingly restored (re manufactured) intricate structure she is so famous for.
No, he doesn't know anything about this.
It might just be me being silly, but when we went for the Lancaster ride I got to see the plane up close which was incredible but would have loved to have got a bit closer than the display allowed. And given that his dad worked on the Wellington, I imagined it would be nice for him to do something similar.
It might just be me being silly, but when we went for the Lancaster ride I got to see the plane up close which was incredible but would have loved to have got a bit closer than the display allowed. And given that his dad worked on the Wellington, I imagined it would be nice for him to do something similar.
Oh he'll get up-close OK!!! While they wont let anyone climb on it or kids hang off the fragile (corroded) guns, you can get very up close and wander all round it examining it from all angles for hours on end with loads of supporting bumph to read. I could spend hours looking at it, but there is so much else to see! Sounds from other posts here like its going to be the only viewable for a little while. If he has any knowledge about it, I would be very surprised if Brookland's staff didn't want to talk to him about what he knows.
oops - just re-read and realised I got dad and grandad confused as the same person - sorry
oops - just re-read and realised I got dad and grandad confused as the same person - sorry
Edited by slybynight on Thursday 21st May 17:49
My grandfather flew Wellingtons in Coastal Command, would be very interested to see one. Another reason I need to get my arse to Brooklands. My wedding was last weekend, and as a surprise present for me the had his Navigation Certificate, squadron photo and medals mounted (nothing particularly mega from a buffs point of view, 39-45 Star, Atlantic Star and 2 others I can't identify - haven't googled - yet) - noble in their own way of course!
My dad was a navigator on Wellingtons, and other types.
For his birthday in 2007 we arranged to take him to Brooklands and he got to go inside the Wellington. Access was via the crew ladder and they had to assess his ability to get up there, although he was in his 80s at the time once he saw the ladder there was no stopping him and he was up it like a mountain goat. I think there was a limit of 2 people on board at a time and I got to go in too. They also arranged for one of the restoration team to show him around.
It was a lovely day out and a bit of a tearjerker for him.
I arranged it through the Head of Collections and Interpretation at the museum, might be worth giving them a call to see if they can still do it.
For his birthday in 2007 we arranged to take him to Brooklands and he got to go inside the Wellington. Access was via the crew ladder and they had to assess his ability to get up there, although he was in his 80s at the time once he saw the ladder there was no stopping him and he was up it like a mountain goat. I think there was a limit of 2 people on board at a time and I got to go in too. They also arranged for one of the restoration team to show him around.
It was a lovely day out and a bit of a tearjerker for him.
I arranged it through the Head of Collections and Interpretation at the museum, might be worth giving them a call to see if they can still do it.
Thunderace said:
My dad was a navigator on Wellingtons, and other types.
For his birthday in 2007 we arranged to take him to Brooklands and he got to go inside the Wellington. Access was via the crew ladder and they had to assess his ability to get up there, although he was in his 80s at the time once he saw the ladder there was no stopping him and he was up it like a mountain goat. I think there was a limit of 2 people on board at a time and I got to go in too. They also arranged for one of the restoration team to show him around.
It was a lovely day out and a bit of a tearjerker for him.
I arranged it through the Head of Collections and Interpretation at the museum, might be worth giving them a call to see if they can still do it.
That sounds like a great day out and the sort of thing I was hoping to arrange. I'll give them a call.For his birthday in 2007 we arranged to take him to Brooklands and he got to go inside the Wellington. Access was via the crew ladder and they had to assess his ability to get up there, although he was in his 80s at the time once he saw the ladder there was no stopping him and he was up it like a mountain goat. I think there was a limit of 2 people on board at a time and I got to go in too. They also arranged for one of the restoration team to show him around.
It was a lovely day out and a bit of a tearjerker for him.
I arranged it through the Head of Collections and Interpretation at the museum, might be worth giving them a call to see if they can still do it.
Thanks for all the help.
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