sharing a Halifax picture .... and a question about it

[gilles collaveri]

A friend of mine was a SAS member during WWII: he was parachuted in France behind the frontline in August 1944 and he showed me the picture herewith attached dating from this period.

You can see a Halifax with the SAS teams boarding.

Its left wing has something painted underneath: can anybody explain what was this marking ?

thanks & good evening

GC

[BlenheimBuff]

Hello,

Looks like it reads 'NAID4'....can't find any reference to that acronym relating to 297 sqn or the Halifax generally.

Regards,

Ian

[Bill Walker]

I think it is the serial. NA104 was a Halifax B.III built by Rootes.

[SteveB]

I think Bill is correct and the requirement to paint serial numbers under the wing in this manner was introduced in July 1945 after the war to deter low-flying.

Steve

[Bill Walker]

That date matches nicely with a B.III having been converted to paratroop transport.

[Larry]

Air Britain RAF serial books say NA104 was with 297 then 21 HGCU and SOC 26-9-47

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks gentlemen.

GC

[Larry]

Any BTW - the Code L5 was used by 297 Sqn on its Halifax a/c when it was re-equipped with the Halifax in Nov 1944.

[Graham Boak]

Do the marks above the roundels suggest that this aircraft was with the Airborne forces in late 1944, when black and white stripes were carried in this position? That would make it an early A Mk.III conversion.

[Larry]

If this is NA104 then it was built from September - March 1945, so the use of 'D-Day stripes' would be possible for Arnhem