The first Whitley Mk.5 which was the main production model. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Prototype Whitley probably at the factory at Baginton. The IWM did not provide a location. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

The first production Whitley and destined for 10 Squadron at RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

The second prototype, probably at Coventry - Baginton where it was built. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Media day at the Parachute Training School at Ringway. Paras left the Whitley through a hole cut in the floor below the tail turret. Photo from: Flight

34 mission marks show this to be a combat veteran. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Remains of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V N1498 which crashed on 6th January 1942 15 miles south east of Inverness while operating with 19 Operational Training Unit. The aircraft flew out of low cloud into high ground.

Armstrong Whitworth photo taken before receiving squadron codes. Lost during a raid on Trondheim on April 18, 1940. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

The second production Whitley, K7184, was flown from Baginton to No 10 Sqn at Dishforth on 9 March 1937. The photo is from an album of a pilot who served in the Far East in 1938 and 1939, but we assume the photo was taken in England. Photo from: National Museum of Singapore

On the night of 11th Feb. 1941, 79 Wellingtons. Whitleys and Hampdens set off to bomb Bremen and, of these, only 27 claimed to have reached the target. On the return 22 aircraft were lost when thick fog blanketed their home bases making navigation very difficult. Whitley V P5013 from 51 Sqn. at Dishforth got lost and the crew parachuted to safety, with the aircraft finally coming down near Hatfield, East of Doncaster. This Merlin X Single Stage engine was recovered at the crash site from 18ft of clay in 1987 and is now on display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum/Aeroventure.

Merlin-engined Whitley V BD392 of the based No.1 Parachute Training School is nearest the camera with A.S. Tiger powered Whitley II's 'H' and 'L' at the rear. The shield for the under-fuselage dropping hole is visible just in front of the roundel. Obtained from Manchester Airport 40 years ago.

A retired Whitley V bomber in use as a parachute dropping training aircraft with the Ringway based No. 1 Parachute Traing School soon before replacement by Dakotas. This late model was fitted with RR Merlins. Obtained from a wartime RAF member over 50 years ago.

The Whitley II is dropping paratroopers over Ringway whilst the Westland Lysander films the operation for the making of a propaganda film. Both aircraft belong to the Parachute Training Squadron of the based Central Landing School. Obtained from Manchester Airport over 40 years ago.