[Buzpilot]

Originally Posted by Urufu_Shinjiro

Ok, I'll get a jump on it, the Westland Whirlwind.



CloD whirly-whining FTW!

Only 3 prototypes was around, until December 1940, too late for BoB.

The first squadron to receive the Whirlwind was No. 25, then based at North Weald. The squadron was fully equipped with Bristol Blenheim IF night fighters when Squadron Leader K. A. K. MacEwen flew prototype Whirlwind L6845 from Boscombe Down to North Weald on 30 May 1940. The following day it was flown and inspected by three of the squadron's pilots, and the next day was inspected by the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, and Lord Trenchard. Two days later the second Whirlwind, a production model, was again flown in from Boscombe Down by Squadron Leader MacEwen, and later that day a pilot of the squadron solo'ed in it. On 17 June the AOC-in-C Fighter Command recommended that No. 25 Squadron be re-equipped with Bristol Beaufighter night fighters, as it was already an operational night fighter squadron, and Whirlwinds were not being produced fast enough. The three Whirlwinds supplied to No. 25 Squadron were transferred to No. 263 Squadron.

The first production Whirlwind delivered to No. 263 Squadron was P6966, which was collected by Squadron Leader H. Eeles on 24 June and flown to Grangemouth, where 263 Squadron was reforming after disastrous losses in the Norwegian Campaign, in which only four pilots survived. After the decision had been made that No. 263, not No. 25, would be the first operational Whirlwind squadron, No. 263 had to make do with the three initial aircraft, and was supplied with additional Hurricanes until more Whirlwinds became available. Slow deliveries and the delays involved in converting from Hawker Hurricanes to the new fighter, resulted in the squadron not becoming operational with Whirlwinds until December 1940.