Picture should have been taken after or during the end of World War II, probably close to Marrakech French base (but that is not sure). Can anyone tell us what these planes are? My grand father could be one of the pilots and I would like to find information on him.
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It's an RAF Coastal Command Vickers Wellington, a maritime patrol variant, with a chin radome for its search radar and the nose turret removed and just greenhouse for observing. The dark projection on top just above the cowling is a fairing for a Direction Finding loop antenna on the fuselage. The dark shapes farther back are just dark painted areas. Here's a shot of a similar one:
If you're sure the picture was taken near Morocco, it was probably doing sub hunting in the Mediterranean and nearby Atlantic. Likely with 179 Squadron, based at Gibraltar.
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1$\begingroup$ It looks to me like the (supercharger? oil cooler?) air inlets on top of the cowlings may be significantly different (taller?) in your photo than in the photo attached to the original question. Do you agree? (Doesn't affect the accuracy of the answer, I'm just curious.) $\endgroup$ Apr 8, 2021 at 19:14
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2$\begingroup$ I think what you are thinking of as the air scoop is the teardrop fairing on the fuselage. The scoops themselves that are white in the pic I posted are black in the OP's pic. So the whole dark mass is, from left to right, three elements merged into one shape: the back end of the cowl (which bulges up on the Wimpy), the engine inlet scoops, then the DF antenna fairing. You can also see the mast for another wire antenna sticking up right behind the cockpit. On the nose, just variations from aircraft to aircraft, as these are likely field mods or at least post production mods. $\endgroup$– John KApr 8, 2021 at 19:21
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2$\begingroup$ A little bit perhaps but it's impossible to tell with such a blurry pic. In any case, they are the same type, just not the exact same airplanes. $\endgroup$– John KApr 8, 2021 at 19:25
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1$\begingroup$ Thanks you so much ! That's fantastic to have your help and your knowledge ! Many thanks again ! I wil try to investigate further and i will post information if i can find more things. It comes from a serie of pictures taken in Marrakech in 1948-1949 by a french army photographer, friend of my grand-father. $\endgroup$ Apr 8, 2021 at 20:04
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1$\begingroup$ Following your information, I think the plane in this picture (from Wikipedia) is very close to the plane in the original picture. As we can see Gibraltar rock, it should be Squadron 179 as you told. Thanks again!  $\endgroup$ Apr 8, 2021 at 20:20
