Westland
Welkin Serial: ?
This Welkin appears to be
unserialed. (I enlarged it greatly with no discernible number
appearing).
The Welkin was built specifically as a presurrized, high
altitude fighter, capable of combating German
bombers flying in excess of
30,000 ft. Notable, of course, were its high aspect ratio wings,
spanning
70 ft. In the
event, the threat of such renewed bombing raids by the Luftwaffe in
1943 never material-
ized and, as a
result, only 75 Welkin Mk Is were built. In addition, two
prototypes of a two-seat night
fighter version were also
produced. Despite its limited operational status, much
useful high altitude
experience was gained
and used in good stead on later designs.