Historical research and trip reports

"…but more wonderful than the lore of old men
and the lore of books, is the secret lore of ocean…"

H.P. Lovecraft, "The White Ship"

Project Overview - Wellington aircraft

The project concerns a British Vickers Wellington aircraft shot down by the Germans after an air raid against Naxos in 1943.

Gallery

The Vickers Wellington bomber. A bird's eye view of the aircraft's wreck. The aircraft's nose with the forward turret. Closer view of the forward turret. The tail area. The aircraft's cockpit looking aft. The port side engine. The starboard side engine. Note the fuel tank and the 'geodetic' wing frame. General, starboard side view of the wreck.

Field and Historical Research

Vickers-Armstrong Wellington bomber

  • Text: Nicholas Vasilatos
  • Research: Antonis Hatziantoniou, George Karelas, Nicholas Vasilatos

Following information from local fishermen we visited the wreck of a Mk13 Vickers Wellington World War II bomber aircraft resting in about 75 meters of crystal clear Aegean water. As far as we know the aircraft has been located a few years back but was never dived. Some preliminary research has enabled us to identify the aircraft which flew on a sortie against shipping in Naxos during 1943. It was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and was ditched at sea. All crew were saved.

The Vickers-Armstrong Wellington was designed to an Air Ministry specification for a day bomber originally issued in 1932. It entered the RAF in 1938 and remained in service until 1953. Wellingtons were operational throughout WWII and served in all major theatres of the war. Its role was diverse and included that of a medium bomber, anti-submarine duties, paratroop drop aircraft and that of a torpedo bomber amongst others. A distinctive feature of the Wellington is that it used the 'geodetic' method of construction pioneered by Vickers-Armstrong. The method comprised of a metal latticework of stress-equalising members covered in doped fabric.

A single outing has so far been made in order to confirm the wreck. Future dives and continuing documentary research are on the agenda.

wreckDiving team members that participated:

  • - Antonis Hatziantoniou: diver, surface support
  • - George Karelas: diver, surface support
  • - Sarantis Malafouris: diver, videography, surface support
  • - Kostas Milionis: diver, surface support
  • - Helen Tsopouropoulou: diver,photography, surface support
  • - Nicholas Vasilatos: diver, surface support

Bibliography and Sources:

  • - Freer, Paul; Parry, Simon (2009) Wellington Squadrons in Focus, Red Kite, Surrey
  • - The National Archives, Kew