who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

Received an photograph from a relative of a crewmember. We are nut sure if her relative is on that photo. I would like to know who can help me out with the nose art of this particular Lancaster and perhaps the serialnumber???

Many Thanks,
Adrian

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

No one any clues????
Adrian

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

can you say who the person is who might be in the photo, and what units did they service with, it might help focus thoughts.

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

I wish that we know a person on the photo. Only thing we know is that on the back of the photo is a date 1942 and Canada.

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

Then I suggest contacting a Canadian museum.

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

That many missions and back in Canada by 1942? I would agree with Ed as if this is the case, there should be other photos of what purports to be a successful Lanc

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

The first Lancaster in Canada was a factory fresh plane built in England and flown to Canada in August, 1942. Pictures of that plane show no nose art or mission (bomb symbol) markings. The picture you have posted shows some nose art and maybe 16 or so "mission" bombs. (I believe a full tour at this time was 30 missions, so your photo does not seem to show a RCAF crew that had, for example "completed" their tour.)

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4721...vancouver-sun/

That "English" Lancaster made a tour of both Canada and the US, it was in Texas in November:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4721...vancouver-sun/

The pilot, Clyde Pangborn, was an American. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Pangborn

Canada did not build any Lancasters until August, 1943, when the first Canadian built Lancaster was flown to England by a RCAF crew.

https://www.warplane.com/ruhr-express.aspx

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4723...imes-colonist/

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

Then Royal Air Force Ferry Command it is. This aircraft is not Canadian.

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

hello adrian,

if we had a better scan of the image,
it might be possible to read the nickname!?

for example by smartphone ...

could we get that?


regards
marc

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

All a BIG Thank you for your contribution much appreciated!!

That's all I have received sofar but will asking for a better scan. I received the photo from the far relatives of P/O J.A.B.Cooper an Australian Navigator on a 103 Sqdn Lancaster JA855 crew shotdown in the night 25/26 July 1943 over Elsendorp. Basil Cooper was an replacement of "Lefty" Legge another Australian navigator who was ill with flu. I don't know where Basil went before joining 103 Sqdn.

Regards,Adrian

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

The date on the back is wrong as the larger bomb-aimer's blister wasn't seen until spring 1943, so you can probably assume Canada is wrong as well. The Lanc looks to be from the 1943, early 1944 period.

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

Some info on JA855 from 103 Squadron. (Note: JA855 was on its 5th mission, lost 25/26 July 1943).

https://www.planehunters.be/lancaster-ja855/

A link on the bottom of the page above includes recovery photos of bits and pieces of the plane.

Also info here: https://www.northlincsweb.net/103Sqn...r_103_sqn.html

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

I think I just found some photos that match the nose art, Lancaster ED713 from 576 Squadron (Nulli Secundus (Second to None)). Note that 103 Squadron and 576 Squadron both were based at RAF Elsham Wolds and may possibly have even exchanged planes from time to time. ED713 was lost in December 1943.

There are three photos which show the nose art about halfway down the page on this link:

http://aircrewremembered.com/hughes-richard.html


Based on the number of mission markings that are clearly visible in two of the photos, those two were taken some time later in 1943. Your photo was probably taken in the summer of 43 at Elsham Wolds. Note the photos enlarge if you click and "hold" on the image.

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

maybe also interesting and helpfull:

source


regards & stay well
ghostwriter

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

Well done and great find RSwank. I was aware that members of this forum might help me with the ID of the Lanc nose art photograph. Superb. Anyway i have asked a
better quality scan of the photo. Also i wasn't sure about the writing on the back of the photograph 1942 and made in Canada. Appreciate all your help in ID this Lancaster.

Cheers,
Adrian

Re: who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster
 

Adrian,

Glad to help. I assume you have seen Cooper's file on-line:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...?B=1056392&S=1


UPDATE:
Just to clarify, 576 Squadron was formed around Flight "C" of 103 Squadron in November 1943. http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/576_wwII.html

Thus Lancaster ED713 was apparently in 103 squadron (flight C?) through the summer and fall of 1943.

This link (search for ED713) shows the plane as being both in 103 and 576 squadrons.

http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc-noseart-m-o.htm

You mention that Cooper was a substitute for the regular navigator of the crew that was lost in July. Maybe the photo shows Cooper with a different 103 squadron crew, maybe his "regular" crew.