A very rare recognition model of an Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle that was made of Buckram, that at sometime has been modified and painted.
The Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle (also known as the AW.41) was a British twin-engine aircraft used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. Originally conceived as a medium bomber, its compromises in design left it obsolete for combat by the time it entered production. However, it found a vital second life as a special military transport and glider tug, famously dropping the very first British pathfinders on D-Day.
🛠️ Designed out of Desperation
In 1938, the British Air Ministry issued Specification B.9/38. Fearing severe wartime shortages of strategic materials, they required a bomber constructed entirely without light alloys (like aluminum).
The Architecture: Designed by John Lloyd, the Albemarle featured an unstressed plywood skin over a robust steel-tube fuselage frame.
Dispersed Production: The aircraft was built in three separate sections. This allowed nearly 1,000 small, non-aviation subcontractors—including furniture makers—to manufacture parts before final assembly by A.W. Hawksley Ltd.
Innovation: It was the very first British production aircraft to feature a retractable tricycle undercarriage. This nose-wheel design kept the plane level on the ground, allowing full engine power to be safely applied during tricky glider take-offs.
📉 The "Wooden Non-Wonder"
While the manufacturing concept was brilliant, the execution resulted in an aircraft that was heavy, slow, and plagued by engine overheating from its twin Bristol Hercules XI radial engines. By its first flight on 20 March 1940, it was vastly outperformed by all-aluminum bombers like the Vickers Wellington and the legendary all-wood de Havilland Mosquito. Out of 602 built, only 32 were ever completed as bombers, flying a single raid in May 1943.
🪂 Redefined for Airborne Operations
Realising its combat limits, the RAF stripped out its bomb bays, reinforced the floors, and adapted the Albemarle into a rugged utility workhorse:
Attribute
Specification
Primary Roles
Paratroop transport, glider towing, and special freight delivery.
Capacity
10 fully equipped paratroopers (dropping through a floor aperture) or 4,000 lbs of cargo.
Max Speed
265 mph (426 km/h).
Combat Range
1,300 miles (2,160 km); 800 miles while actively towing a glider.
🎖️ Historical Legacy
Despite its flaws, the Albemarle secured a permanent place in military history. Operating under 38 Group RAF, it towed heavy Airspeed Horsa gliders and dropped troops during the invasion of Sicily and Operation Market Garden.
Most notably, at midnight on 6 June 1944, Albemarle transports from No. 295 Squadron were the very first aircraft to drop airborne pathfinders over Normandy, paving the way for the main D-Day invasion fleet. The type was honourably retired from service in February 1946