7 December 2012

Wellington bomber revealed in book by local author

The Vickers Wellington was the RAF's main bomber for half of World War Two, and it is famous for its unique geodetic framework which made it both light and able to withstand heavy combat damage.

The secrets of geodetic construction and other technical details of the aircraft are brought to life in a book newly published by local author Iain Murray, of the University of Dundee. Published by Haynes, famous for their range of car repair manuals, the new book is the fortieth in a new range of Haynes manuals covering historic aircraft, ships and other vehicles ranging from the Routemaster bus to the Space Shuttle. Dr Murray added a book about the Dam Busters to the range last year, and has also written a history of the work of Sir Barnes Wallis, who designed the Wellington's structure and the bombs used by the Dam Busters.

"The structure of the Wellington looked complex," said Dr Murray, "but it was actually very easy to mass produce, as most of the frame components could be made on just one machine. This also made it very versatile, and it was used in a range of roles throughout the war, being built in larger numbers than any other British multi-engined aircraft."

In addition to being a lecturer in the School of Computing at Dundee University, Dr Murray is a member of the Tayside & Fife Branch of the British Science Association, and will be giving a talk on Barnes Wallis in February as part of the Branch's public lecture programme.

Vicker Wellington: Owner's Workshop Manual is published by Haynes, and is available from Amazon and all good bookshops, priced £22. More details are available from www.SirBarnesWallis.com.

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