who can recognise this nose art on a Lancaster

[debowa]

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.

[RSwank]

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

[RSwank]

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.

[ghostwriter]

maybe also interesting and helpfull:

Hi,
at this moment I researching a wartime 103 squadron Lancaster JA855,PM-A crash, shotdown over the Dutch village Elsendorp. Five crew out of the eight crewmembers where killed and three survived but became POW not long after they baled out of the stricken bomber. Amongst the crew who where killed was 21 year old Navigator Pilot Officer John Albert Basil Cooper 408628 from Camberwell, Victoria,Australia.

[...]

source


regards & stay well
ghostwriter

[lancaster103]

Originally Posted by RSwank

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.

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

[RSwank]

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.