Wellington "AA-R" Low Top Canvas Shoes

Sale price$59.00 USD
Gender: Men
Color: Black
Size: US5/EU38
Canvas Shoes Size Chart
What Size Am I?
Shoe sizes can vary considerably between brands. A US13 with one brand could be a US12 with another brand.  We always recommend doing a quick foot length measurement to find the correct size. Once you have this, you can ascertain your insole measurement (please see the image below) and then simply look that up on our size chart to locate the most appropriate size.
A detailed sizing guide, aliong with UK sizing can be founded here.
We also have a Shoe Size Guarantee to give you peace of mind with your size selection. More details can be found here.
Please note all our sizes are standard width. No wide sizes are available. 
US  (M) US (W) EU INSOLE  (in/cm) 
- 5 35 8.9 22.7
- 5.5 36 9.2 23.3
- 6 37 9.3 23.5
5 7 38 9.6 24.5
6 8 39 9.8 25.0
7 9 40 10.2 25.9
7.5 10 41 10.4 26.3
8.5 11 42 10.6 27.0
9.5 11.5 43 11.0 28.0
10 12 44 11.2 28.5
11 - 45 11.4 29.0
12 - 46 11.7 29.8
13 - 47 12.0 30.5
14 - 48 12.3 31.2
Current as at: Oct 1, 2024

This design is based upon Wellington L7818 (AA-R) of 75 (NZ) Squadron of which James Allen Ward was a co-pilot of, and received a Victoria Cross. The citation for Ward's VC was published in the London Gazette and read:

 "On the night of 7 July 1941, Sergeant Ward was second pilot of a Wellington bomber returning from an attack on Munster. While flying over the Zuider Zee at 13,000 feet his aircraft was attacked from beneath by a German Bf 110, which secured hits with cannon-shell and incendiary bullets. The rear gunner was wounded in the foot but delivered a burst of fire sending the enemy fighter down, apparently out of control. Fire then broke out in the Wellington's near-starboard engine and, fed by petrol from a split pipe, quickly gained an alarming hold and threatened to spread to the entire wing. The crew forced a hole in the fuselage and made strenuous efforts to reduce the fire with extinguishers, and even coffee from their flasks, without success. They were then warned to be ready to abandon the aircraft. As a last resort Sergeant Ward volunteered to make an attempt to smother the fire with an engine cover which happened to be in use as a cushion. At first he proposed discarding his parachute to reduce wind resistance, but was finally persuaded to take it. A rope from the aircraft dingy was tied to him, though this was of little help and might have become a danger had he been blown off the aircraft.

With the help of his navigator he then climbed through the narrow astrodome and put on his parachute. The bomber was flying at a reduced speed but the wind pressure must have been sufficient to render the operation one of extreme difficulty. Breaking the fabric to make hand and foot holds where necessary and also taking advantage of existing holes in the fabric, Sergeant Ward succeeded in descending three feet to the wing and proceeding another three feet to a position behind the engine, despite the slipstream from the airscrew which nearly blew him off the wing. Lying in this precarious position he smothered the fire in the wing fabric and tried to push the engine cover into the hole in the wing and on the leaking pipe from which the fire came. As soon as he had removed his hand, however, a terrific wind blew the cover out and when he tried again it was lost. Tired as he was, he was able, with the navigator's assistance, to make a successful but perilous journey back into the aircraft. There was now no danger of fire spreading from the petrol pipe as there was no fabric left near it and in due course it burned itself out. When the aircraft was nearly home, some petrol which had collected in the wing blazed up furiously but died down quite suddenly. A safe landing was made despite the damage sustained to the aircraft. The flight home had been made possible by the gallantry of Sergeant Ward in extinguishing the fire on the wing in circumstances of the greatest difficulty and at the risk of his life."

— The London Gazette, No. 35238, 5 August 1941

Sadly, James Allen Ward VC was shot down and killed while on a mission to Hamburg on the night of 15/16 September 1941, whilst in command of another Wellington. He was only 22 years old

 

Many thanks for my wonderful sneakers!  I shall wear them with pride to remember my 25th mission with Bill DeSanders.

John "Lucky" Luckadoo (B-17 Pilot)

I was a bit dubious in ordering these, but I was very pleasantly surprised. They are excellent and well thought out. You just need to be patient regarding delivery. Well worth the wait. I'll be getting more.

Bradley D

Wonderful customer service. My error in 1st order they were good to their word and replaced at no charge. New order fits perfectly. Love the shoes.

Kelly S

Great quality nice comfortable and look so cool.

Justin McS

Brilliant shoes, comfortable and good soles. Customer service was excellent as well as my delivery went somewhere else but they helped me locate it.

Yvette P

I ordered a pair of the Avro Arrow shoes, and was totally impressed. What great quality, and super comfortable. I will be getting more for sure, thanks for a great shoe and supporting all of these great institutions, great job folks.

Royce C