Read the forum code of contact
Posts: 3,654
By: - 2nd July 2023 at 23:47 Permalink - Edited 2nd July 2023 at 23:59
Hi All,
Possibly this aircraft:- https://aircrewremembered.com/hampshire-rj.html In your photo the Pilot is wearing glasses and has a tache, in the picture I discovered below the chap on the far right looks pretty similar just not wearing glasses. If you scroll down the linked page you will see there is a note attached that MZ813 was formally known as ( RCAF 424 Sqdn- QB-B - Bambi ) before being transferred to ( RAF 158 - Sqdn Recoded NP-Y based at RAF Lisset.)
As for the difference in art I can only assume that they where ordered to cover it up for the promotional shot before as the word CANADA was not part of the original design added just for this publicity shot.
If you scroll down section eight when on the linked site immediately below you can zoom in on the picture below I found, apart from that it's good to read.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1635&context=cmh
Related to Bambi art:- https://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/olympus-digital-camera-91/
Geoff.
By: - 3rd July 2023 at 01:41 Permalink
I don't think that's the same aircraft.
The artwork, apart from being Bambi, is totally different and the mission tally is in a completely different location.
Posts: 3,654
By: - 3rd July 2023 at 16:27 Permalink
Hi All,
If anyone can help it's the RCAF Bomber Command Museum, I have emailed them if there was more than one Halifax with Bambi nose art, they do have an archive but I couldn't access it all I could do was scroll down the links but none were active.
I believe the OP picture is the same aircraft just having had a 2nd reiteration of nose art after a few more ops, having said this it is always possible there were more than one Halifax with Bambi nose art before the aircrafts transfer.
Like I mentioned if you zoom in on the Image I found there is a similarity between the two men I mentioned one with glasses the other wearing none and the tache. If I am wrong then so be it, anyway hopefully the RCAF Bomber Command Museum will put us right they have a massive archive of nose art.
https://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/noseart/
Geoff.
By: - 3rd July 2023 at 20:18 Permalink
Hi Duggy,
I got into the nose art gallery albeit in a roundabout way (please don't ask how!). The aircraft in your photo is MZ500 of 640 Sqn. Details here -
https://www.old.bombercommandmuseum.ca/noseart/?fid=1022&go=Go
By: - 3rd July 2023 at 20:39 Permalink - Edited 3rd July 2023 at 20:43
Great bit of sleuthing Mothminor :)
The pilot in the first picture may or may not be Vic Wijnberg DFC (Dutch pilot),looks like he had a very 'united nations' crew inc Dutch pilot ,Welsh F/E,English rear gunner,Scottish M/U,Mauritius ? Bomb Aimer,canadian Nav.
By: - 3rd July 2023 at 21:28 Permalink
Thanks everyone awesome.
Posts: 3,654
By: - 3rd July 2023 at 21:58 Permalink - Edited 3rd July 2023 at 21:59
Hi All,
Mothminor :- Congratulations on a job well done its just good to see everybody working to help others..:- )
bazv :-I found this extra snippet of info, your spot on matey follow the link as this particular Halifax was the subject of a model build. Courtesy of tonyot via the brit modeller forum :- https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992042-revell-halifax-mkiii-mz500-c8-l-640-sq-raf-leconfield-sept-1944/
Geoff.
Posts: 88
By: Duggy1 - 2nd July 2023 at 19:54 - Edited 2nd July 2023 at 19:55
Anyone ID this aircraft ?
Thanks in advance.
Regards Duggy.