Crew positions in a Wellington

I do not think that the drawing gives sufficient information on the crew stations relating to the manning of the aircraft.

A far better source of information is the Classic World War 11 Aircraft Cutaways by Bill Gunston (in association with The Aeroplane and Flight) where the crew stations are clearer than the cutaway being discussed.

Looking at the Gunston cutaway from the aircraft nose to rear gunner, the crew stations are laid out as follows.

Nose.....Front Gunner

Behind the Front gunner and on the floor of the aircraft....the Bomb Aimers station which is formed from the step to the front turret which when folded back provides the Bomb Aimer to adopt a prone position to sight and release bombs.


Pilot station in the conventional location. No provision for a right hand seat to accommodate a second pilot. Access to the Front Gunner and Bomb Aimer stations would be restricted by such a seat

Behind the pilot's station and slightly lower, facing forward, is the Wireless Operator station facing forward.

Aft of, and close to the Wireless Operator station is the Observer's station facing the port side of the aircraft. The Observer would carry out the role of Navigator and for the bombing of the target would leave his Navigator station and undertake the role of Bomb Aimer using the bomb sight from the prone position. The Bomb Aimer's station was not designed to be occupied during the whole of an operation.

Above the Observer's station is the Astro Dome which the Observer would use to attain an astro fix on the aircraft's position. This navigational aid was before the event of radio and radar aids which made the task of navigation much easier but still had to be complemented by map reading and course plotting.(Gee navigational equipment first used in the raid on Luebeck in late March 1942,)

Aft of the above stations and virtually located on the spar of the aircraft is a spare seat which presumably was the seat that the Second Pilot occupied.

Aft of the spare seat and located lower in the spar area was a bunk, a feature which was discarded in the 4 engined heavies design.

Finally at the rear of the aircraft was the Rear Gunner's turret.

As regards copyright, I would think that any use of the intellectual property that the publication represents for commercial gain would require the permission of the holder of the copyright according to the copyright laws. However, as I see it, a copy could be made without reference to the copyright holder if related to personal research.