Whirlwind HE-F P7116 of No. 263 Squadron RAF, December 1941
“Bellows Argentina No 2”
The Bellows Fellowship was a fundraising initiative organized by British expatriates living in South America during World War II to support the purchase of aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was a creative and patriotic effort, where each member pledged to contribute a centavo for every German aircraft shot down by aircraft sponsored by the Fellowship. Over time, the Fellowship grew to a membership of 70,000 people, showing the scale of support from the expatriate community.
Among the aircraft provided by the Fellowship were several Whirlwind fighters, which were given unique designations based on the Fellowship’s contributions. Notably, these planes carried special markings:
- P7094 was named “Bellows” and had the word painted near the cockpit, accompanied by an image of a pair of bellows within an oval.
- Planes P7055 and P7116-P7121 were labeled “Bellows Argentina Nos. 1-7,” respectively.
- P7122 bore the name “Bellows Uruguay No. 1,” indicating its support from the Uruguayan expatriate community.
Additionally, P7056, another Whirlwind fighter, was funded by the people of Yeovil, a town in the West Country of England, and was named “Pride of Yeovil.”
These presentation aircraft were part of a larger effort by civilian groups to contribute directly to the war effort, with individuals and communities rallying together to raise funds for specific planes or other military equipment. The Bellows Fellowship is a striking example of international support and solidarity during the conflict, particularly from British communities abroad.