Ten RAF squadrons were equipped with the Wellesley.
In November 1938 three Wellesleys took off from Ismailia, Egypt and flew to Darwin, Australia non-stop. They had extra fuel tanks installed. Two of them made the journey of 7,162 miles / 11,526 km in a little over 48 hours.
Start of World War II
At the start of the war there were about 100 Wellesleys based in the Middle East and Africa. They such much action against the Italian's in East Africa, Italian Somaliland, and the Western Desert.
Later these aircraft were used for shipping reconnaissance until the middle of 1943.