VICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENT 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 15VINCENT
The Singapore-based squadrons
were still awaiting delivery of
Beauforts when Japan invaded
Malaya in December 1941. But the
obsolete Vildebeests were no match
for the Japanese attackers and
suffered heavy losses.
The surviving Vildebeests were
withdrawn to Java where they
continued to attack Japanese
shipping, claiming eight vessels
sunk but with substantial losses.region (as well as Sudan and East
Africa) in 1932-33. The aircraft
performed well and an order was
forthcoming for a dedicated version,
to be named the Vickers Vincent,
and powered by a 660hp (492kW)
version of the Pegasus.
The Vincent was first unveiled to
the public at the 1935 RAF Hendon
Air Pageant, but deliveries had
already been made to 8 Squadron
at Aden in late 1934. A total of
197 Vincents would ultimately be
accepted by the RAF.SERVICE CAREER
The first Vildebeests entered
service with 100 Squadron at RAF
Donibristle, Scotland, in October
1932 and eventually the type would
equip four frontline torpedo-bomber
units, including two in Singapore.
The Vincent commenced service
with 84 Squadron RAF at Shaibah,
Iraq, in December 1934 before
re-equipping general purpose
squadrons in Aden, Egypt, Iraq,
Kenya and Sudan.
By the outbreak of World War
Two, 101 Vildebeests were still with
the RAF. It was the only torpedo
bomber in use with RAF Coastal
Command, and two British-based
squadrons flew coastal patrol and
convoy escort ‘ops’ until 1940 when
the type was replaced by the
Bristol Beaufort.VICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENTVICKERS VILDEBEEST & VINCENT
region (as well as Sudan and East
Africa) in 1932-33. The aircraft
performed well and an order was
forthcoming for a dedicated version,
to be named the Vickers Vincent,The final Vildebeests in the Far
East region f lew on with 273
Squadron at Ceylon until March
1942, but the Vincent continued
to be useful in Africa and the
Middle East. It was used as an
improvised bomber during 1941,
to bomb Italian submarines near
Aden and the last examples did
not retire from spraying pesticide
against locusts in Iran until as late
a s 194 4.“The Vincent commenced service with
84 Squadron RAF at Shaibah, Iraq, in
December 1934 before re-equipping general
purpose squadrons in Aden, Egypt, Iraq,
Kenya and Sudan.”
Above
Vildebeest Mk.II
K4176 was attached
to 36 Squadron at
Seletar, Singapore in- ANDY HAY/WWW.
FLYINGART.CO.UK
Left
The Vildebeest stood
almost 15ft tall and
ladders were
needed to reach
the upper wings
during refuelling.Below
Vickers Vildebeest
II K2936 of 100
Squadron. In October
1932 the unit was the
fi rst to receive the
type. It was based in
Scotland at the time
but soon moved
to Singapore.