VICKERS WELLINGTON TYPE B 5c/372 AIR MINISTRY & CROWN STAMPED MORSE CODE SENDER KEY

The Vickers Wellington carried two Type B 5c/372 Morse Code Sender Keys mounted on the aircraft’s flying panel with one just to the right of the pilot’s control column and other within reach of the Wellington’s Cop-pilot/Flight Engineer on the panel’s starboard side.

Unlike the ‘Bathtub’ Morse Code Sender Key used by the aircraft’s Navigator to communicate with Bomber Command’s network of wireless transmitters across Southern Britain, the cockpit Morse Sender Keys were directly linked to a small white, tear-drop glass communication lamp just forward of the Top Gunners Turret.

The Morse Code Lamp was used for air to air communication with other bombers nearby when radio silence was required. 

It was particularly useful at the bomber assembly point as the main bomber group began to form up behind the lead bomber before heading for the target. It was also used over the target and during the dash home to signal aircraft identification or distress.

The original Morse Code Sender Keys were all metal, produced in Britain or Canada but by mid 1940, the more easily produced bakelite models were being fitted into all most of the RAF’s heavy bombers as well as the Hurricane and Spitfire fighters. This model is one of the first runs of the new bakelite moulded units.

This is an extremely rare example of an early Vickers Wellington Morse Code Sender Key and would make a fantastic and totally unique and treasured, original  aircraft collectable from a bygone era of one of the world’s most iconic fighter aircraft. 

Mounted in its 100 yr old mango wood display stand with engraved plaque and highly detailed, custom built 1/72, or super detailed 1/48 scale model of this iconic aircraft perched above on its removable magnetic arm, this original Recovery Curios WWII aviation collectable also comes with a full colour, laminated Fact Sheet featuring photos of the instrument in situ with details on its operation and the aircraft’s history.

This Vickers Wellington Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit

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