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In 1941, the Bristish Air Ministry issued an requirement for a
high-altitude bomber with a pressurised crew compartment. By the time
Vickers was already working on a experimental Wellingtion with pressure
cabin nose. They submitted Type 447 proposal to Air Ministry, and was
received contract for three Windsor prototypes plus two B.1 pre-production
aircrafts in 1942. The first prototype flew in October 1943, second on
February 1944, third on July 1944 and all three were built at Vickers
secret dispersed Foxwarren Experimental Department. Initially the
remotely-controlled guns were not fitted until 1945 but these were brought
forward to go on the third prototype. The defensive armament over-weight
problem, together with other developement delays, the Windsor was found to
be not sufficiently in advance of the Lancaster IV in range or general
performance to justify the Ministry's plans to employ it actively in the
war against Japan. By the end of war, the Windsor further development and
production were cancelled.
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