Corgi AA34805.(C) Vickers Wellington Mk.VIII Royal Air Force HX379/WN-A No172 Squadron, Coastal Command, Chivenor, Devon, Late 1942 (w/ Working Leigh Light)

(C) Indicates this product is guaranteed to have a limited edition certificate.

In April 1942, the Wellington GR Mk.VIII entered service with No.172 Squadron of Coastal Command. The GR.VIII was a modifed Mk.IC bomber, with ASV Mk.II radar installed and in some cases also a Leigh Light. On 3/4th June 1942 the first attack on a surfaced submarine at night using a Leigh Light was carried out by a Vickers Wellington of No.172 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command, flown by Squadron Leader J.H. Greswell. The target was the Italian Navy Marconi Class submarine Luigi Torelli. When illuminated, the submarine initially remained on the surface and fired recognition flares, believing the aircraft to be friendly. The Wellington then dropped four Mk8 depth charges, damaging the submarine.