Ploughshares into swords
Armstrong Whitworth AW.27 EnsignAircraft re-engining uses British engines instead of the Wright Cyclone to save upon foreign currency. Candidate engines include the Napier Dagger, Bristol Mercury/Hercules, Rolls Royce Kestrel/Merlin and Armstrong Whitworth Deerhound. The eventual selection of the Bristol Hercules was simply due to it having the required power and being an air cooled radial that required the least amount of work to the airframe. The installation was tested on the prototype AW.29 light bomber.
Bombs slung under the central fuselage on external racks three bombs wide. The two power operated turrets are mounted over the escape hatches in the fuselage roof, one in-line with the wing leading edge, the other above the passenger door. The bomb aimers’ position is fitted under the nose of the aircraft.
The patrol version has racks are fitted under the outer wings for depth charges, and ASV radar. Additional fuel tanks are fitted in the main passenger cabin. The conversion carried out is along similar lines to Focke Wulf FW200 Condor.
De Havilland DH-91 Albatross.The aircraft was originally built as an airliner and as trans-Atlantic mail plane.
Upon outbreak of war a number of mail planes were ordered as long range maritime patrol aircraft, they were also deployed as meteorology reconnaissance aircraft.
Operating out of the bases at Sumborough, Stornaway, Benbecula, NI, Cornwall, The Azores, Bermuda and Keflavik.
A ventral bath, just behind wing trailing edge houses the bomb aimers’ position. Dorsal gun position a sliding perspex panel at 2nd roof escape hatch. Side gun positions at rearmost windows on both sides.
Bombs and depth charges hung on wing spar under fuselage.
Re-engined with Bristol Mercury air cooled radials, this cutting down to a minimum the changes required to the airframe.