The Clarence Simonsen · many cases, nose art was painted on an aircraft and the aircraft was lost before even an fiunofficialfl photograph could be taken. In other cases, only

NOSE ART

TheClarence Simonsen

Collection

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NOSE ART

TheClarence Simonsen

Collection

NANTON LANCASTER SOCIETY

Dave Birrell

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Copyright Dave Birrell 2007

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmittedin any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, includingphotocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrievalsystem, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from thepublisher.

Published byThe Nanton Lancaster Society

Box 1051Nanton, Alberta, Canada

T0L 1R0www.lancastermuseum.ca

Printed byBlitzprint

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Canadian Cataloguing Information

Birrell, DaveNose Art -The Clarence Simonsen Collection

ISBN 978-0-9680440-4-9

1. Nanton Lancaster Air Museum - History - Nose Art 2. Bombers3. Royal Canadian Air Force - HistoryI. Birrell, Dave II. Title

Front cover photo: Replica painting of “Johnny Walker” nose art carried byNo. 9 Squadron RAF Lancaster W-4964

Back cover photo: Portion of a replica painting of No. 420 Squadron RCAFnose art originally painted by Floyd “Skip” Rutledge in 1943 and carried byan unknown Wellington Bomber

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CONTENTSClarence SimonsenNose ArtNose ArtistsIntroduction to the Collection“A” TrainAdmiral PruneBambiBooting Hitler“C” for CecilCanada KidChampCorkscrew CharlieDevestating DogDipsy DoodleDragonEaster Egg for Hitler“Ell CatGallopin GertyGetting Younger every DayHell RazorIrremoveable FingerJoan CrawfordJohnny WalkerJust Testing

Lady OwlLet’s Have AnotherLittle BearLondon’s RevengeMedicine HatNo. 71 SquadronNo. 107 SquadronNo. 431 SquadronNuts for NazisOl Daid EyePhil Black TributePress on RegardlessRCAF TributeSeven DwarfsSnowbirds PresentationStork with Baby IStork with Baby IIStork-WellingtonSugar’s BluesVeni Vedi ViciX-TerminatorZombie IZombie IIZombie III

7911131516171920212223252728293031333536383940

414244454647484950515354555758596061636567697071

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Clarence was born in a smallfarmhouse six miles from Acme,Alberta. During the postwar RCAF era,he watched bright yellow Harvardtrainers fly over the farm on the flyinginstructor’s course from Medicine Hatto Penhold, Alberta. The loud,distinctive sound of the Harvards left alasting impact on the young farm lad,who always seemed to be drawingaircraft in his spare time.

In his early teens, Clarencehad his first exposure to artist AlbertoVargas and subsequently discoveredthe world of aircraft nose art and thepin-up in time of war.

During a four-year stint in the Canadian Army Provost Corps,Clarence was posted to Cyprus with the United Nations PeacekeepingForce in 1965. As he left Canada for the first time, he wondered if this washow bomber crews felt twenty-five years earlier. For the next six monthshe conducted Military Police dutieswith M.P. members of six othercountries. During his spare time hepainted unit cartoons and did his firstlarge mural art work. Clarence began tounderstand the effect art can have onisolated military men. By late 1966, hewas a member of the MetropolitanToronto Police Force with his majoravocation being the research,collection, and repainting of aircraftnose art.

Clarence has been involvedwith three highly acclaimed books onthe subject. He was a major contributorto, “Vintage Aircraft Nose Art - Readyfor Duty”, that was published in 1987.Then in 1991, he co-authored, “Aircraft

CLARENCE SIMONSEN

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[Photo: Bob Evans]

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“Nose Art from World War I to Today”.His most recent work, “RAF and RCAFAircraft Nose Art in World War II”, waspublished in 2002. He has also writtennumerous articles for aviationmagazines and has madepresentations at the SmithsonianInstitute in Washington, USA and othervenues. Clarence is recognized as theleading authority in his area ofexpertise.

Although the largest collectionof his work is on display at the NantonLancaster Air Museum, Clarence haspainted numerous other nose artreplicas for various individuals,museums, and private and militaryorganizations. He has also paintednose art on restored vintage aircraft.

Clarence knows that everyexample of artwork that was painted onan aircraft has an associated story thatinvolves the artist’s inspiration andcreativity and the aircrew that flew itover enemy territory. Clarence doesn’tjust paint pictures -he brings thesestories to life again as our museumvisitors view his work.

As the museum has developed,Clarence has played a major role inbringing nose art and their associatedstories to our attention and through himwe have come to appreciate itssignificance as a window into thehistory of Bomber Command.

This panel honours the CanadianCF-18 aircrew that served in the

1990-1991 Gulf War

Clarence Simonsen nose art on aNo. 135 “Bulldog” Squadron

Hurricane at Reynolds Museum inWetaskiwin, Alberta

This panel was paintedin October 1996 torecognize No. 410

Squadron CF-18 pilotSteve Nierlich’s winningof the “Top-gun” awardin the U.S. fighter pilot

competition

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NOSE ART

The name and nose art made it feel she was “our” aircraftand would always bring us home.

-Jack McIntosh (pilot of “Medicine Hat”)During World War II, the personalization of an aircraft by giving it a

name, painting an image on it, and in many cases doing both, began in theearly months of the war, increased in frequency as the war progressed,and reached its peak in 1945. In the case of bombers, a bomb tally wasgenerally added as well and this provided a powerful visual record of thesuccess and longevity of particular aircraft. In some cases, additionalinformation such as whether an operation was a day raid or a night raidand the type of weapons carried were also noted. The destruction ofenemy fighters was usually indicated and often other details such asawards received by aircrew while flying the aircraft.

If a bomber crew was assigned a particular aircraft, they weresometimes able to choose the name and artwork and this enabled apowerful bond to develop between the men and the machine. Often, but notalways, the name and the artwork were directly related to the letterdesignation for the particular aircraft within the squadron. The markings onfuselages of Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft were

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W/C D. StewartRobertson DFC was a

pilot with No. 51 and No.78 Squadrons RAF

during 1940. This un-restored, original nose

art panel from hisWhitley Bomber reflectshis Canadian citizenship

and home-town ofCalgary, Alberta.

made up of a two letter squadron code, such as “EQ”, that in combinationwith a single letter designator for the aircraft, such as “N”, produced aunique identifier, in this case “EQ-N”. So, for example, if a crew wereassigned the squadron’s “D” aircraft, names such as “D for Daisy”,“Devastating Dog”, or “Dipsy Doodle” were possibilities.

The vast majority of World War II aircrew were in their very earlytwenties and many even flew wartime operations while in their teens. So itis not surprising that the majority of the nose art reflects their interest in“pin-up” girls of the day and other images related to the opposite sex.However, cartoon characters were popular subjects as well, many of themcreated by Walt Disney.

There were likely several hundred different nose art paintings onaircraft operated by Canadian aircrew. The presence of cameras onwartime bases was actively discouraged and the loss rates were high so inmany cases, nose art was painted on an aircraft and the aircraft was lostbefore even an “unofficial” photograph could be taken. In other cases, onlya poor quality, distant shot of a nose art adorned bomber was taken and, ofcourse, during the early 1940’s colour photos were very rare. At war’s end,there was little interest and thousands of aircraft were scrapped with littlenote being taken of any artwork.

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Skip was a master at his tradeWe came back, engines humming, after every raidNo worry did we have, for Skip was Number One

Searchlights and flak were a present from the HunThe symbol for our Hali was “Fangs of Fire”

On the nose of our bomber it did inspire-Bill Bartlett (“Fangs of Fire” crewmember)

NOSE ARTISTS

In his book, “RAF and RCAFAircraft Nose Art in World War II,Clarence lists the names of 23Canadians who are known to havepainted nose art. Although some wereaircrew, 65% were “Erks” -ground crewaero-engine mechanics, airframemechanics and others with ranks ofcorporal or below. The names of thosewho painted the original wartimeartwork, if known, are mentioned in thearticles that follow. Sadly, the names ofthe artists who painted most of themare not known.

Photo: Ray Lepp

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George Oliver painting “Zombie”on Lancaster LL-725

Like the aircrew, most of theartists were very young and had noformal training in art. An exception wasThomas Dunn who painted nose art ontwelve Halifax Bombers. His experiencewas that he had painted signage ontrucks prior to the war.

It appears the selection of anindividual to paint the nose art on anaircraft was an informal process.Someone on the squadron with aninterest in art, an idea, and themotivation would simply volunteer to dothe work. In some cases, afterestablishing a reputation, the noseartist would charge for his work. Often payment was simply a night of freebeer at the squadron pub but some took the opportunity to charge asmuch as five pounds to do the work.

“Muff” Mills is the only Canadian known to have used his wartimenose art experience to launch a career. “Muff” went on to become an artdirector and political cartoonist.

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THE COLLECTIONThe panels that make up The Clarence Simonsen Collection have

been donated to the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum over a number of yearsduring which Clarence has contributed to the museum in several differentways.

Many of his panels were painted when Clarence saw an opportunityto create artwork that complimented a particular display in the museum ora special event that we were having. Others were inspired by ouracquisition of a full-size Lancaster replica cockpit section and ourcollection of large Lancaster wing panels which he saw as perfect“canvasses”. His knowledge of the history related to the artwork enabledClarence to see opportunities to do this when others of us at the museumwere unaware of the possibilities.

Clarence’s paintings are based on black and white wartimephotographs, many of which were not necessarily focused on the nose artand, because they were taken by amateur photographers with relativelyprimitive equipment during hectic wartime days, are generally not of thebest quality. But Clarence has brought these images to life by painting hisnose art replicas in colour and with a freshness and clarity that enables usto appreciate the power and impact they had during World War II.

The other aspect of his work that makes it so special is that all arepainted on aircraft skin, in all but one case aluminum, that has flown aspart of a World War II Bomber or training aircraft. The panels and rivetsprovide a rich background texture that makes his work much moremeaningful and directly connects it to his subject. In many cases, theoriginal paint from the wartime aircraft remains around the edges of thenose art replica.

The museum is honoured to be able to present to our visitors thefinest collection of aircraft nose art replica paintings in Canada. TheClarence Simonsen Nose Art Collection compliments three othersignificant collections of aviation art that are also on display, The DavidMould Collection, The John Rutherford Collection, and the Andy KindretCollection.

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AAAAA TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN

No. 424 Squadron RCAF wasadopted by the City of Hamilton,Ontario and the squadron’s nicknameof "Tiger Squadron" was derived fromthe city’s rugby team, The HamiltonTiger Cats. Arriving at the squadronduring December 1943, Halifax LV-951(QB-A) took her artwork from thefootball team as well. The name “ATrain" was a popular wartime swingtune.

The nose art was painted byMatthew Ferguson. Many of hisdesigns were placed in front of a mapleleaf. Halifax LV-951 was lost overBraunschweig on 13 August 1944.Ferguson was one of the most prolificof the Canadian nose artists, paintingon Spitfire fighters as well asWellington, Halifax, and LancasterBombers.

Nose artist Matthew Fergusonand “A Train”

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ADMIRAL PRADMIRAL PRADMIRAL PRADMIRAL PRADMIRAL PRUNEUNEUNEUNEUNE

During the summer of 1942, Wing Commander Guy Gibson was thecommanding officer of No. 106 Squadron RAF. His Lancaster W-4118 (ZN-L) featured nose art of Mickey Mouse and was named “Admiral Prune”.On 5 February 1943 with another crew on board, W-4118 went missingafter an engine fire near Dijon. Another Lancaster, ED-593, then becameW/C Gibson's aircraft. This Lancaster carried the same nose art but wasnamed “Admiral Prune II”. Although only 25 year old, Gibson hadcompleted over 170 operational sorties and hadaccumulated in excess of 600 flying hours.Many were flown in "Admiral Prune" and"Admiral Prune II".

On 15 March 1943, a new Lancastersquadron was formed for the sole purpose ofattacking the dams that provided much of thepower for Germany’s highly industrialized RuhrValley. The weapon was to be the “bouncingbomb”, released by moonlight at an altitude ofonly sixty feet. W/C Gibson was appointed thecommanding officer of the squadron that wouldbecome “The Dambusters” and a new chapter inRAF history would be written. W/C Guy Gibson VC

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BBBBBAMBIAMBIAMBIAMBIAMBI

During June 1944, the brand new Halifax bomber MZ-813 (QB-B)was assigned to Jack Dundas, a pilot with No. 424 Squadron RCAF basedat Skipton-on-Swale. Another Halifaxhad carried the marking “QB-B” but ithad failed to return from an operationand a replacement was required.

Now with a new aircraft in theirhands, the 21 year old Dundas and hiscrew were faced with deciding what sortof nose art beginning with the letter "B"they could decorate her with. Themajority of the crew favoured the name"Beer Barrel Betty" with artwork of afemale figure to match. However, Jackfelt that they needed somethingdifferent and recalls, "So I exercised myright and told the crew that, as skipper,we were going to do it my way! No. 424was based within walking distance ofthe town of Thirsk and one day in abookstore there, I spied a child’s paint

Ground crew and “Bambi”[Photo: Jack Dundas]

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book with the little Walt Disney ‘Bambi’ on the cover. I thought, 'Daintylittle Bambi, bloody great Halifax, what a contrast!’

“So I bought the book and had the ground crew nose artist paint thebook cover on the nose of the Halifax. All of the squadron’s art was doneby an artist named Matthew Ferguson and his fee for ‘Bambi’ was twopounds ten, which was a lot of money in those days. When the art wascompleted, the crew felt that ‘Fergie’ deserved every penny we paid him.The artwork always attracted a lot of attention, especially when we werediverted to any American 8th Air Force airfield."

Jack and his crew went on to become the first crew from No. 424Squadron to finish a complete tour of thirty operations together, flying mostof their sorties in "Bambi”.

The aircraft was then transferred to No. 158 Squadron RAF. MZ-813crashed and burned on 21 February 1945 near Leiston, Suffolk after hittingsome trees while attempting to land on three engines following a raid. F/OR.J. Hampshire and three others were injured and the other fourcrewmembers were killed. The loss of “Bambi” was part of a terrible twodays for the squadron during which five of their aircraft were destroyed.

(l-r) LAC W.L. Poland, Sgt. W.C. Norris (mid-upper gunner),LAC J.G. Bowman, F/O H.H. Campbell

[Canadian Forces PL-40884]

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BOOBOOBOOBOOBOOTING HITLERTING HITLERTING HITLERTING HITLERTING HITLER

No. 242 (Canadian) Fighter Squadron RAF was formed on 30October 1939 at Church Fenton, Yorkshire. The aircrew was made up ofCanadian pilots. One of the first to arrive was Calgary-raised WilliamLidstone “Willie” McKnight who went on to become an "ace”, destroying 161/2 enemy aircraft prior to being lost over the English Channel.

On 24 June 1940, S/L Douglas Bader took command of thesquadron that was then based at Coltishall. During the first week ofSeptember 1940, Bader designed the squadron emblem -a caricature ofHitler being kicked in the breeches by a flying boot labeled “242”. A metaltemplate was cut from the original Bader drawing and all the squadron’sHurricanes were painted by groundcrew artist LAC Tom Elgey. The nosepainting appeared on both sides of theHurricanes. Under Bader’s command,No. 242 participated in the Battle ofBritain.

In 1931, Bader had lost both legsin a flying accident. Despite his artificiallegs, he began flying again when warwas declared. On 9 August 1941, hewas forced to bale out and spent theremainder of the war as a POW.

The museum’s replica is paintedon skin from Hurricane #5389.

Douglas Bader (left) and WillieMcKnight with a

No. 242 Squadron Hurricane

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C FOR CECILC FOR CECILC FOR CECILC FOR CECILC FOR CECIL

Nose Artist “Muff” Mills

This image was painted on two aircraft by Albert Edward “Muff” Mills.“Muff” joined the RCAF and became an airframe mechanic. He was postedto No. 428 Squadron RCAF and in February 1943 painted this nose art ona Wellington Bomber with the wording "C for Cuppa Tea”. The image laterappeared on a Halifax Bomber.

In January 1945, “Muff” painted the same image on a No. 408Squadron RCAF Lancaster with the wording "C for Cecil”. Muff’s brotherwas one of “C for Cecil’s” aircrew.

Clarence and “Muff” are close friends. In1996, when Clarence heard that Muff wasplanning a visit to the Nanton museum, heencouraged him to paint this replica for themuseum on skin from Lancaster KB-994 (EQ-K)that flew with No. 408 Squadron.

Muff presented the art work whileattending our “Salute to Those who Served”special event. Although not part of theSimonsen Collection, Clarence asked that thiswork by his good friend “Muff” be included in thebook.

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CANCANCANCANCANADADADADADA KIDA KIDA KIDA KIDA KID

Halifax NP-759 was delivered to No. 432 Squadron RCAF during thesummer of 1944. It was marked “QO-C”, given the name "Canada Kid", andappropriate artwork was painted on her nose. Each sortie was recorded bya candy sucker -an orange one for a night raid and a white one for adaylight raid.

The aircraft completed 35 operations before being lost on a raid toHannover on 5 January 1945. The pilot, F/Lt. James Sales, and two of hiscrew were killed when the aircraft crashed at Lichen Horst, Steinbke,Germany. The other four aboard“Canada Kid” survived to becamePrisoners of War.

As well as the “Canada Kid”replica nose art in the museum’scollection, Clarence has paintedanother example that adorns theCanada House Pub in London,England.

Canada Kid after herthirtieth operation

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CHAMPCHAMPCHAMPCHAMPCHAMP

Halifax MZ-587 was delivered to No. 420 Squadron RCAF on 17 April1944. Designated “PT-C”, it was referred to as "C for Champ" and givencorresponding nose art. The aircraft was involved in a Category "A"accident on 8 August 1944 after completing 56 operations. “Champ” wasrepaired and then served with No. 1666Heavy Conversion Unit and No. 1664HCU as a training aircraft. On 13January 1945, MZ-587 made a hardlanding that collapsed the undercarriageand set the outer port engine on fire.The Halifax was then flown to an RAFbase at Rawcliffe on 21 January 1945and eventually scrapped.

Nose artist Floyd “Skip” Rutledgegot his “The Champ” idea from a 1943issue of The Saturday Evening Postmagazine that featured an articleregarding the “Battling Bulldogs” of the355th Fighter Squadron, U.S. Army AirForce. The “Pugnacious Pup” imagewas their official insignia.

Harold Barnes (left) and noseartist Floyd “Skip” Rutledge

with “The Champ”

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CORKSCREW CHARLIECORKSCREW CHARLIECORKSCREW CHARLIECORKSCREW CHARLIECORKSCREW CHARLIE

On 28 June 1944, one hundred Canadian bombers were dispatchedto attack the target of Metz, France. Of these, seven were shot down.Warrant Officer H. G. McVeigh was piloting Halifax "C for Charlie" whichwas attacked four times by German fighters. He managed to evade the firstthree attacks by utilizing an evasive tactic known as a “corkscrew”, thestandard manouever flown by pilots when their bomber was being attackedby a night fighter.

A Bomber Command air gunner’sprimary duty was to act as a look-out.When a gunner saw a fighter about toattack, he shouted through theintercom, "Corkscrew left", or“Corkscrew right”, depending on thedirection of attack and then open fire. Inthe case of “Corkscrew Left,” the pilotwould fling the bomber into a suddenleft bank and drop altitude by severalthousand feet while throttling back tolower the bomber's speed. He wouldthen level out briefly and fling thebomber into a climbing right bank with

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engines at full power. After regainingaltitude, the procedure could berepeated as many times as the pilotand air gunner felt necessary. Theseviolent changes of altitude, speed, andattitude frequently upset the fighterpilot’s aim and often caused the enemyairman to lose sight of the bomber inthe darkness.

After corkscrewing and evadingthe first three fighters, W/O McVeigh’saircraft was finally hit whilecorkscrewing for a fourth time. Thestarboard fin and rudder werecompletely shot away and the wingtip,elevator, and aileron were damaged. At13,000 feet the bomber went into a tightspin and the crew was ordered to bail out. Two of the aircrew left thespinning aircraft before the pilot managed to regain control and level off at6,000 feet.

W/O McVeigh then set a course for England but before long one ofhis port engines gave out. However he managed to reach the emergencyairfield at Woodbridge where, because of the damage to his empennage,McVeigh had to land at 155 mph, much higher than the normal landingspeed. For saving the lives of his crew, McVeigh was promoted andawarded the DFC.

McVeigh and crew then received a new Halifax, MZ-807, which theRAF flight engineer, Rob Hood, painted with the most appropriate name"Corkscrew Charlie" and the cartoon of pilot McVeigh having a few drinksat the local pub. This Halifax completed at least 20 operations before itwas shot down on 2 December 1944 while on a raid to Hagen with a crewpiloted by F/Lt. W. Cook.

W/O H.G. McVeigh

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DEVDEVDEVDEVDEVASTASTASTASTASTAAAAATING DOGTING DOGTING DOGTING DOGTING DOG

Halifax LW-596 had completed thirty operations with No. 432Squadron RCAF when it was assigned to S/L M.W. Pettit’s crew thatincluded rear-gunner Doug Penny. The ground crew then painted over theoriginal nose art “Quappelle” and replaced it with artwork they named"Devastating Dog." The image was based on a Walt Disney character.

During July 1944, the aircraft wastransferred to No. 434 Squadron RCAFand S/L Pettit’s crew received a newHalifax, NP-692. It was given the samename and another “Devastating Dog”was painted on its nose.

A sortie to Hamburg was thethirty-third for rear-gunner Doug Penny.On the trip home the Halifax began agradual descent as it approached theEnglish coast. Doug began to relax,poured a cup of coffee from histhermos, and at four thousand feetremoved his oxygen mask. Thensuddenly in the darkness he glimpsed amovement. A German night-fighter had

Doug Penny in “Devastating Dog’s”rear turret

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followed them home. Air gunner Pennyand the fighter opened fire at the sameinstant. The German bullets struck theHalifax tail just four feet from Doug’sturret but Penny’s fire killed the Germanpilot and the fighter fell over and doveinto the sea. For his actions Doug wasawarded the Distinguished Flying Medaland was later commissioned.

Doug and crew completed theirtour of duty and "D for Dog" went on tofly with a new crew. On 27 September1944, the aircraft was one of 127bombers to attack the oil plants atBottrop. It was hit by flak and pilot F/Lt.J. Woodward was severely injured. F/OC. Hay, the navigator, took over andwas able to get the Halifax somewhatunder control. He managed to make acrash landing at the emergency strip atWoodbridge. "Devastating Dog" thencaught fire and burned. The crew allmade it out safely but sadly F/Lt.Woodward died of his injuries the nextday. For his brave actions in saving thecrew, F/O Hay was awarded theDistinguished Service Order.

A damaged “Devastating Dog”[Photo: Doug Penny]

“Devastating Dog”[Photo: Doug Penny]

Doug Penny (left) with museum restoration shop volunteer CharlieCobb at the museum’s “Salute to the Air Gunners” in 2004

[Photo: Kathy Taerum]

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DIPSY DOODLEDIPSY DOODLEDIPSY DOODLEDIPSY DOODLEDIPSY DOODLE

An American in the RCAF with No. 424 Squadron, Jim Keys andcrew flew "Dipsy Doodle" prior to completing most of their operations in"Gallopin Gerty”. Peter Engbrecht was the mid-upper gunner and GordonGillanders manned the rear turret. The two formed what was undoubtedlythe most successful gunnery team in the Royal Canadian Air Force duringWorld War II, accounting for nine "confirmed” and two "probable" enemyfighter aircraft.

During a raid to Bourg-Leopold in Belgium on the night of 27/28 May1944, “Dipsy Doodle” was attacked fourteen times by enemy night-fightersin a running battle from the target back to the English coast.

Engbrecht shot down the first fighter to attack and then, quotingfrom his combat report, “An FW190attacked from the port quarter up andstarted to break away on the portbeam, the mid-upper gunner firingalmost continuously and observing thefighter to blow up in his sights. Theattacks were kept up until we reachedthe English coast. Types seen wereJu88, Me109, nearly all operating inthrees. The mid-upper gunner had notime to clear his guns and used onlythe one to shoot the second machinedown. Further hardship was caused byintercom failure from the turret, combatmanoeuvres being passed on and givenby the rear-gunner.”

Peter Engbrecht, GordonGillanders, and Jim Keys

with Dipsy Doodle[Canadian Forces PL-30468]

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DRADRADRADRADRAGONGONGONGONGON

“Dragon” was Halifax LK-947. She was delivered to No. 428Squadron RCAF during October 1943 and completed eight operationsbetween 22 October 1943 and 21 January 1944. F/Sgt. E. O'Connor andcrew flew her on her first four operations to Kassel, Dusseldorf, Mannheim,and Berlin. On 14 January 1944, the aircraft was transferred to No. 429Squadron RCAF where it completed four operations, the last to MeulanLes Mereaux on 2 March flown by P/O W.B. Byers.

Once again “Dragon” was transferred, this time to No. 434 SquadronRCAF, arriving on 5 March 1944. The Halifax completed seven moreoperations, her last to Frisian Islands on 7 May 1944 flown by F/Sgt. W.Wood. LK-947 was then assigned toNo. 1659 and 1669 Heavy ConversionUnits for training purposes prior to beingdesignated for disposal at High Ercallon 21 January 1945.

Dragon is one of fourteen panelsof Halifax nose art that was cut fromRCAF aircraft that were about to bescrapped after the war. It is currently ondisplay at the Canadian War Museum.

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EASTER EGG FOR HITLEREASTER EGG FOR HITLEREASTER EGG FOR HITLEREASTER EGG FOR HITLEREASTER EGG FOR HITLER

Matthew Ferguson of Calgary, Alberta painted this artwork on a 4000pound "cookie" bomb to celebrate the 2000th operation by No. 424 "Tiger"Squadron RCAF. A photograph was taken and then the bomb was loadedinto Lancaster RF-128 (QB-V) and delivered on 21 March 1945. The aircraftwas known as "Victorious Virgin" and was flown by F/L J. F. Thomas andcrew.

The art shows a winged tiger breaking out of an Easter egg and thisparticular bomb was a special present for Hitler from the squadron. It wasdropped on the oil refinery at Hemminstedt, near Heide, Germany. Thenose art image on the Lancaster wasbased on the November 1944 "Varga"pin-up that appeared in Esquiremagazine. Ferguson painted a numberof "Varga" nose art ladies and it isbelieved he painted the art on LancasterRF-128 as well as the bomb. On 15October 1940, Esquire magazineintroduced Alberto Vargas’s "Varga Girl"to the world. By the end of World WarII, the Varga pin-ups had appeared asnose art on hundreds of allied aircraft.

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Ell CAEll CAEll CAEll CAEll CATTTTT

Clarence painted this nose art on the starboard side of themuseum's Lancaster cockpit section replica. The original work was done in1945 on No. 424 (Tiger) Squadron Lancaster NG-484 (QB-L) by MatthewFerguson of Calgary, Alberta.

Like many of Ferguson’s nose art paintings, “’Ell Cat” is based onthe tiger theme that derived from thefact that the squadron had beenadopted by the City of Hamilton whoserugby football team was the HamiltonTiger Cats. A Canadian maple leafgenerally formed the background forMatthew Ferguson’s paintings.

It is unusual that a major piece ofartwork like “’Ell Cat” was painted onthe starboard side of the nose.Clarence suspects that something elsemay have been placed on the port sideprior to “’Ell Cat” being painted.

The museum acquired the full-sized Lancaster replica nose sectionfollowing its construction for use in theproduction of the film, “Map of theHuman Heart”. [John Dolson photo]

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GGGGGALLALLALLALLALLOPIN GEROPIN GEROPIN GEROPIN GEROPIN GERTYTYTYTYTY

On 3 July 1944, Jim Keys and his crew were assigned Halifax MZ-802 (QB-G) as part of No. 424 Squadron RCAF. Their ground crew took itupon themselves to have the squadron nose artist, Matthew Ferguson,paint “Gallopin’ Gerty” on the aircraft. Jim recalled, "One day we came outto the parking pad and there it was. We were very proud of their efforts andhad them out for a night at the pub."

"Gerty" served well. Its team of air gunners, Sgt. Peter Engbrechtand Sgt. Gordon Gillanders went on tobecome the most renown in the RCAF.However on 9 October 1944, the aircraftfailed to return from a raid to Bochum.The squadron's commanding officer, W/C G.A. Roy DFC, was flying “Gerty”that night. He and five of the six otheraircrew aboard survived to becomePrisoners of War.

The "Gallopin Gerty" artwork wasthen recreated on MZ-802's successor,“NR-206” but the elephant was re-named "Fi-Fi" when the Halifax was

Matthew Ferguson (right) and“Gallopin Gerty”

[Canadian Forces: [PL-31716]

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Ground crew member and “Gallopin Gerty”[Photo: Jack Dundas]

This version of “Gallopin Gerty” was painted on skinfrom Halifax NA-337 that was raised from the depths of

Lake Mjosa, Norway. Note the original lettering regardingfuel. The replica shows the bomb tally and three

swaztikas earned by NA-337.

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transferred to No. 415 Squadron RCAF and marked "6U-F”.Clarence painted this replica on original skin from Halifax NA-337,

the aircraft that was salvaged from 730 feet below the surface of LakeMjosa in Norway in 1996.

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No. 9 Squadron RAF Lancaster LM-220 (WS-Y) carried this nose arton 12 November 1944 when P/O Doug Tweddle flew the aircraft on the raidthat sunk the Tirpitz. Sister ship to the more famous Bismarck, the 42,900ton battleship carried a main armament of eight, 15 inch guns.

P/O Tweddle’s daughter, Maggie Tweddle of St. Albert, Alberta, andhis son John Tweddle of England unveiled the replica nose art on 31 July2004 at a special event commemorating the sixtieth annversary of the raid.Clarence painted this near full-size replica on a Lancaster wing panel.

The figure in the artwork was the symbol for “Younger”, a type ofbeer favoured by P/O Tweddle and his crew. According to his son, the crew"borrowed" a tray that featured the artwork from their favourite pub andasked a talented member of their ground crew to paint this nose art ontheir aircraft. 25 of the crew’s 38 operations were aboard “Y-Younger”.

GETTING YGETTING YGETTING YGETTING YGETTING YOUNGER EVEROUNGER EVEROUNGER EVEROUNGER EVEROUNGER EVERY DY DY DY DY DAAAAAYYYYY

The Battleship Tirpitz in Kafjord, Norway[Photo: John Asmussen; www.bismarck-class.dk]

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The Royal Navy and the RAF hadattacked the Tirpitz earlier in the warbut little effect on the battleship’sarmour plate was possible until Britishinventor Sir Barnes Wallis built aspecial bomb that could do the job.Wallis had previously developed the“bouncing bomb” used in theDambusters Raid. In 1944 he devisedthe “Tallboy”, a 12,000 pound weaponcapable of piercing the Tirpitz’s armourplating.

Douglas Tweddle flew threeoperations to attack the Nazibattleship, two of them in “Getting Younger Every Day”. The first was inLancaster “WS-U” and required an eleven hour and twenty minute flight toa base in the northern part of Russia where the Lancasters could berefueled prior to attacking the battleship at its mooring in northern Norway.The raid was successful in damaging the Tirpitz but the extent of thedamage was not known to the British.

The battleship was then deployed farther south and the final tworaids were made from bases in Scotland. The weather was ideal for thesecond attack until an unexpected wind shift covered the Tirpitz with cloudand smoke-screen just thirty seconds before the first Lancaster was readyto bomb. When Tweddle arrived in “Y for Younger” he recalled, “We couldn’tsee a damn thing so we just came back. We brought the bomb back.”

It is thought that P/O Tweddle’s Tallboy that was dropped from“Getting Younger Every Day” was one of two that struck the Tirpitz on thefinal raid and caused her to capsize.

Doug Tweddle in thecockpit of “WS-Y”

Replica Tallboy Bomb at the museum

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HELL RAZORHELL RAZORHELL RAZORHELL RAZORHELL RAZOR

Lancaster KB-885 was built at the Victory Aircraft Plant at Malton,Ontario and assigned to No. 434 Squadron RCAF during March 1945. Itsservice record with the squadron is not known. In April 1945, the aircraftwas transferred to No. 420 Squadron RCAF where it was assigned thecode letters “PT-Y”.

The nose art features a bat with an straight razor for a mouth thatcontains a machine gun. Clarence believes that this design likely derivedfrom artwork created by Walt Disney artists and was one of three designscompleted for United States Carrier Air Group 81 in June 1944.

Upon its return to Canada following the war, KB-885 went on tobecome "The Red Deer Lancaster" when Charlie Parker purchased theaircraft and displayed it next to hisservice station on Highway #2. Stillproudly carrying its "Hell Razor" noseart, the Lancaster became a landmarkfor motorists travelling between Calgaryand Edmonton from 1947 until 1956when it was sold to an Americancompany who planned to utilize KB-885as a water bomber. Sadly, it caught fireand burned just prior to take off from afield near the service station in January1957.

“Hell Razor” was on displayat Red Deer during the 1950’s

[Photo: Rob Taerum]

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IRREMOIRREMOIRREMOIRREMOIRREMOVEABLE FINGERVEABLE FINGERVEABLE FINGERVEABLE FINGERVEABLE FINGER

Halifax NR-199 was delivered to No. 434 Squadron RCAF on 30October 1944, but flew no operations. It was then transferred to No. 408Squadron where it remained for only seven days before being assinged toNo. 420 Squadron. It served with No. 420 for just one day prior to beingreturned to No. 408 Squadron where it received the markings "EQ-N”.

Since the aircraft had been posted from squadron to squadron, noneof which seemed to want it, the crewconnected it with P/O Prune, a cartooncharacter that played the role of aninept air force officer who was featuredin illustrations that were part of RoyalAir Force training material. Prune wasnot a valued member of any of thesquadrons either. In the cartoons, heregularly crashed aircraft or made othersignificant errors. After each accident,with his index finger pointingprominently and generally wearing awhite glove, P/O Prune commented onthe subject at hand or explained howthings should have been done.

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“Irremoveable Finger” in 1945[Photo: F/L Harold Lindsay]

Halifax NR-199 completed 16operations with No. 408 Squadronbefore being transferred to No. 415Squadron, completing a total of 22sorties before the war ended.

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JOJOJOJOJOAN CRAWFORDAN CRAWFORDAN CRAWFORDAN CRAWFORDAN CRAWFORD

In January 1944, No. 427 Squadron RCAF began to replace theirHalifax Mk. III aircraft with Mk. V's. The squadron had been adopted bythe Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studioand the new aircraft received nose artand names related to female stars thatwere currently appearing in MGM films.It is thought that the squadron's aircraft"J", (LV-994), was likely the one named“Joan Crawford.” The painting wasinspired by the 1938 "Petty Girl" thatappeared in the pages of EsquireMagazine.

Joan Crawford is said to havebeen one of Hollywood’s finestactresses during the 1930’s and1940’s. The winner of an AcademyAward in 1943, she often played thepart of a hardworking young womanwho eventually found romance andsuccess.

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JOHNNY WALKERJOHNNY WALKERJOHNNY WALKERJOHNNY WALKERJOHNNY WALKER

"Johnny Walker" was painted on Lancaster W-4964 that flew withthe markings “WS-J” while serving with No. 9 Squadron, Royal Air Force.The aircraft had a distinguished career, logging a total of 106 operations.

Likely the most detailed piece of RAF nose art painted during thewar, it features the Johnny Walker whiskey symbol with the firm's equallyfamous motto, "Still Going Strong”. The artwork includes the ribbons fromthree Distinguished Flying Medals and four Distinguished Flying Crossesthat were awarded to her aircrew. A full year's service is indicated by thechevron below which there are three wounded-in-action stripes, one for acontainer of fifty, four pound incendiaries that were dropped from above andpassed through the aircraft's wing. The other symbols indicate asearchlight destroyed, a fighter shotdown, and the star with the hammerand sickle refers to the fact that theaircraft flew to Russia from where itattacked the Battleship Tirpitz. Thelarge bomb marker indicates the 12,000 pound “Tallboy” dropped on theTirpitz. The bomb with a “D” representsa daylight raid.

Clarence painted this near full-size replica on a Lancaster wing panel.

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JUST TESTINGJUST TESTINGJUST TESTINGJUST TESTINGJUST TESTING

Many aircraft in the Royal Canadian Air Force carried nose art butClarence knows of only two that featured tail art, “Ol Daid Eye” and “JustTesting”.

Little is known of this artwork other than it was painted next to therear turret of a No. 408 Squadron RCAF Halifax. The cartoon features thehapless Dagwood Bumstead from the comic strip "Blondie" who is aboutto test a parachute.

Aircrew were issued with a parachute prior to each flight, often by amember of the Women’s Auxiliary AirForce or “WAAF” who often remarked,“If this one doesn’t work, just bring itback and I’ll give you another one.”

When a Bomber Commandaircraft was being abandoned, the reargunner rotated the turret to one side,clipped on his parachute, and thenrolled out backwards as the airman isdemonstrating in the photo at right.

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LLLLLADADADADADY OY OY OY OY OWLWLWLWLWL

The serial number and markingsof the No. 420 Squadron Halifax thatcarried this female snowy owl is notknown. It is thought that it was paintedby nose artist LAC J.A. “Jimmy” Smithwho was an airframe mechanic. Smithwas close friends with another No. 420nose artist, Floyd Rutledge, whorecalled that Smith came from Toronto,Ontario. Rutledge and Smith workedtogether on a number of Halifax nose artpaintings.

No. 420 was the RCAF's "SnowyOwl" squadron and this was undoubtedlythe inspiration for this nose art. Later inthe war, No. 420 started placing theirsnowy owl emblem on the tails of theirCanadian-built Lancasters.

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LETS HALETS HALETS HALETS HALETS HAVE ANOVE ANOVE ANOVE ANOVE ANOTHERTHERTHERTHERTHER

Bob Kerns was born near Airdrie, Alberta in 1912. He enlisted withthe RCAF in 1942 and became a navigator. During April 1944, his crew wasposted to No. 166 Squadron RCAF. There were three Canadians on thecrew including pilot F/Sgt JamesDunlop.

After completing six operations,the crew was assigned the brand newLancaster LM-550 with the markings“AS-B”. Cy Straw, the rear gunnerrecalled, “The artwork, I think, cameabout because of the Canadians’ (wehad three in the crew) love of ‘dirtyblack stuff’ -the name they called a pintof mild. When we were allotted ‘B-Beer’, the idea of a beer barrel with pintglasses instead of bombs camenaturally.”

Pilot Dunlop confirms this withhis recollection, “The nose artwork andslogan was designed by me andpainted by one of the Kirmington ground

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crew.”The slogan was taken from the Arthur Lloyd song titled, "Drink, and

Let's Have Another". During their next 21 operations F/Sgt Dunlop’s crewsafely flew "Let's Have Another”, completing their tour of operations on 20July. A raid on 5 June raid was immediately prior to the D-Day Invasion.According to Cy Straw, LM-550 “went to Cherbourg to destroy large navalgun emplacements on the coast. We didn’t know it was D-Day untilreturning over the Channel when we saw the huge armada of vesselslaunching the attack.” After each trip another small beer mug, completewith foaming ale, was painted below the barrel -yellow ones for day sortiesand a white one for each night operation.

During October 1944, Lancaster LM-550 was transferred to No. 153Squadron RAF and given the markings “P4-C” and became known as “C-Charlie”. George Luckraft was the wireless operator on one of the crewsthat flew her. He remembers, “LM-550 was surely a charmed plane. Itreturned us safely from eleven raids on major German cities and in allsurvived 118 ops. We were twice coned by searchlights on the way toDusseldorf and Bill had to dive the plane with a full bomb load. What arelief when she responded on being pulled out of the dive. Especially asanother Lancaster ahead of us went into a dive and continued straightdown into the ground and burst into a huge orange glow.”

Another of LM-550’s pilots during her time with No. 153 was WilliamLangford who flew the Lancaster on seventeen operations betweenNovember 1944 and May 1945. He recalled, “As for the beer mugs, thesehad been removed after her change of squadron and identity letter, but wehad them restored towards the end of the war. There were 118, as far as Iremember, at the end.”

“Let’s Have Another” completedher war by flying three “OperationManna” flights dropping food to thestarving Dutch in western Holland andtwo “Operation Exodus” flights returningformer Prisoners of War to England.

Robert Kerns, who was with LM-550 at the beginning of her illustriouscareer was present at the museum andunveiled Clarence’s artwork in 2003.The replica is painted actual size on aLancaster wing panel.

Bob Kerns (left) andClarence Simonsen

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Little Bear was a Walt Disney design completed for the students intraining at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan’s No. 3 WirelessSchool at Winnipeg, Manitoba. The squadron was No. 13, Flight 13D, ofthe Royal New Zealand Air Force. Clarence painted the replica on fabricskin from Noorduyn Norseman IV (Serial #2494) that served with the RCAFfrom July 1940 until January 1946. During 1947 it was sold and registeredas CF-EIH. Later that year, the aircraft crashed in northern Canada.

It was recovered in 1993 and restored by the Alberta AviationMuseum in Edmonton and placed on display in 1999. The "C" is a portionof the original marking painted in 1947.

A Canadian-built bushplane, theNorseman perfromed a number of roleswithin the BCATP including varioustraining and transport assignments. Itwas designed to operate on floats orfrom unimproved surfaces. Onemeasure of its success is the fact thatit has been registered and/or operatedin at least 67 different countriesincluding service in both the Arctic andAntarctica.

LITTLE BEARLITTLE BEARLITTLE BEARLITTLE BEARLITTLE BEAR

BCATP Noorduyn Norseman[Andy Kindret Collection]

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LLLLLONDONS REVENGEONDONS REVENGEONDONS REVENGEONDONS REVENGEONDONS REVENGE

On 5 May 1943, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios based in Hollywood,California offered to "adopt" the Royal Canadian Air Force’s No. 427Squadron that was flying Halifax Bombers. A special presentation was heldon 27 May 1943 to formalize the relationship. Mr. Samuel Eckman Jr.,managing director of M.G.M. (England), attended and the No. 427commanding officer, Dudley Burnside, was present as well to acceptMGM’s kind offer to adopt the squadron.

Featured at the event was HalifaxDK-186 (ZL-L). The bomber was paintedwith nose art featuring the M.G.M. lion(with wings) flying while holding a bombbetween its paws. The bomber wasnamed "London’s Revenge”.

From this point on, many of thesquadron’s aircraft were named forMGM ladies whose names began withthe same letter as the aircraft’s codeletter. For example, aircraft “ZL-J”featured a painting of actess JoanCrawford and was known as “J forJoan”.

The “Adoption of the Squadron”at No. 427 Squadron’s base at

Leeming in May 1943

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MEDICINE HAMEDICINE HAMEDICINE HAMEDICINE HAMEDICINE HATTTTT

On 1 May 1944, twenty year old JackMcIntosh and his crew were assigned the brand newHalifax Bomber JD-114.

Jack recalled, “We had flown six operationsbefore the crew decided it was time to give ourbomber a name and some type of nose art painting.I was asked to pick a name and selected my homecity in Alberta, Medicine Hat. The nose artist wasone of our ground crew and he picked the painting ofWalt Disney's ‘Goofy’ dropping bombs. The thinkingwas that each time the aircraft flew, the enemy wasreceiving more ‘medicine’ from the ‘hat’. I never metthe artist or learned his name and from what I recall,there was no charge for his work. The painting was completed in one dayand first flew on our ninth operation on 21 June 1943. Over the next fivemonths, I completed 23 operations in 'Medicine Hat' and although we had afew close calls, we never received another hit or injury to the crew. Thename and nose art made it feel she was 'our' aircraft and would alwaysbring us home."

"Medicine Hat”, with JackMcIntosh at the controls, was the lastaircraft to land following the raid toPennemunde that claimed 20% of theRCAF aircraft sent out. Sadly, it wasshot down on its 51st operation on 19February, 1944 with the loss of pilotDoug Macleod and crew.

Jack McIntosh

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NoNoNoNoNo. 71 SQU. 71 SQU. 71 SQU. 71 SQU. 71 SQUADRONADRONADRONADRONADRON

On 19 September 1940, No. 71 Squadron RAF was formed atChurch Fenton as the first “Eagle” Squadron to be manned by Americanpersonnel. This, of course, was well over a year before the United Statesentered World War II.

No. 71 received Hurricane fighters in November. It becameoperational on 5 February 1941 andwas assigned to defensive duties. Thesquadron converted to Spitfires inAugust and then began taking part insweeps over northern France. On 29September 1942, No. 71 Squadron wastransferred to the 4th Pursuit Group, USArmy Air Force as the 334th PursuitSquadron and ceased to be an RAFunit.

The Eagle Squadron crest wasdesigned by Walt Disney artists and isstill in use today. It is considered one ofthe best of all the Disney designs.

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An American pilot in the RAFclimbs into the cockpit. Thisphoto was taken prior to the

addition of the Disney characterto the squadron’s crest

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NoNoNoNoNo. 107 SQU. 107 SQU. 107 SQU. 107 SQU. 107 SQUADRONADRONADRONADRONADRON

F/Sgt Albert Stanley Prince was a member of No. 107 SquadronRAF and was the first of ten thousand Canadians killed serving withBomber Command during World War II in what has been described as themost continuous and gruelling operation of war ever carried out. He flew aBristol Blenheim Mk IV into action on the second day of the war andattacked the German pocket battleship, Admiral Scheer.

F/Sgt Prince's aircraft was hit by flak but,retaining some measure of control, F/Sgt. Princewas able to ditch the aircraft in the sea. All threecrewmembers were rescued by the enemy but F/Sgt. Prince later died of his injuries. His navigator,F/Sgt G.F. Booth and the wireless operator/airgunner, AC1 L.G. Slattery became the first AlliedPrisoners of War of WW II. Of the five aircraftdispatched by No. 107 Squadron, only one returnedto base.

No. 107 Squadron’s insignia featured an RAFeagle diving in front of a large "V for Victory”.Clarence painted the artwork on aluminum skin froma Bolingbroke (the Canadian-built variant of theBlenheim Mk IV). It was unveiled by F/Sgt Prince’sson during the museum's "The First of the TenThousand" commemoration in 1999. F/Sgt Albert Prince

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NoNoNoNoNo. 431 SQU. 431 SQU. 431 SQU. 431 SQU. 431 SQUADRONADRONADRONADRONADRON

No. 431 Squadron RCAF was formed at Burn, Yorkshire, Englandduring November 1942, their official badge being the head of an IroquoisIndian. The squadron transferred to the RCAF base at Croft in December1943. During the course of the SecondWorld War, No. 431 flew Wellingtons,Halifaxes and Canadian-built Mk. XLancasters. No. 431 Squadroncontinues to serve as No. 431 AirDemonstration Squadron “TheSnowbirds”.

The panel portrays the history ofNo. 431, the images including thesquadron’s wartime crest, an IroquoisChief that was carried on the nose oftheir aircraft, a Lancaster with serialnumber KB-859, and the museum’sTutor #177 in Snowbird #4 markings.

The panel was unveiled by MargLiessens and Major Dan Robinson in2006. Marg’s father, P/O Albert Dorey,was lost while serving as the wireless operator inLancaster KB-859 with No. 431 Squadron. MajorRobinson is the grandson of Howard Armstrong, oneof the trio who purchased the museum’s Lancasterin 1960. Dan Robinson grew up in Nanton prior tojoining the Canadian Armed Forces. He flewSnowbird #4 during the 1996 and 1997 seasons.Clarence painted the artwork on original skin from aCanadian-built Lancaster.

P/O Albert Dorey

The design for the Indian Chiefdrawing came from that on the

emblem of the McColl-FrontenacCompany that marketed aviationand other petroleum products.

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NUTS FOR NAZISNUTS FOR NAZISNUTS FOR NAZISNUTS FOR NAZISNUTS FOR NAZIS

Part of No. 425 Squadron RCAF, Halifax NR-271 was marked “KW-N” and based at Tholthorpe in Yorkshire. There was no art on the nosewhen she completed her first operation on 4 December 1944 to Karlsruhe,piloted by F/O A. Martel or her second operation flown by the crew of F/LT. Chapman on the following night to Soest. “KW-N” was then assigned toa regular crew with an American pilot,F/O Chuck Lesesne. This crew chosethe name "Nuts for Nazis" with artworkthat featured a monkey wearing flyinggear and spitting out engineering nuts,one for each operation flown.

Halifax “KW-N” flew a total of 43operations, 19 of them by F/O Lesesne.While on their 22nd operation in anotherHalifax, they were hit by an enemyfighter. Pilot Lesesne and his flightengineer, F/Sgt N.S. Peters, fought tomaintain control allowing their crew tosuccessfully escape. Sadly, F/OLesesne and F/Sgt Peters were thentrapped in the cockpit and were killed.

This wartime photo of “Nuts forNazis” features 31 nuts.

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OL DOL DOL DOL DOL DAID EYEAID EYEAID EYEAID EYEAID EYE

This gun-toting character appears to have been based upon the L'ilAbner cartoon strip by Al Capp that became a popular source of inspirationfor Canadian artists. “Ol Daid Eye” was actually "tail art" as it was paintednext to Halifax LW-207's rear turret during its service with No. 426Squadron RCAF.

On 16 June 1944, S/L Donald Patterson, “B” Flight Commander withthe squadron, selected the new Halifax LW-207 as his aircraft. He went onto pilot the aircraft on sixteen operations between 19 May and 30 July1944. The Halifax was assigned themarkings “OW-W” and named “WillieThe Wolf From The West”. The namewas taken from the 1943 movie “RidingHigh” that starred Dorothy Lamour andfeatured a song titled, “Willie the Wolf ofthe West”. S/L Patterson appears tohave modified the title by subsituting“from” for “of” as he was “from” the west-Calgary, Alberta. The artist definitelyhad Donald Patterson in mind when hedid the painting because the wolf iswearing a squadron leader’s tunic.

This unknown air gunner sittingin “Ol Daid Eye’s” rear turret waslikely in S/L Patterson’s crew and

may have painted the artwork.

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Clarence painted this replica nose art of “Willie the Wolf From TheWest” on original skin from Halifax NA-337. It was recovered from

Lake Mjosa in Norway in 1995 and is now on display at the RoyalCanadian Air Force Memorial Museum in Trenton, Ontario. The replica

was presented to the current c/o of No. 426 Squadron in 2004.

(l-r) Aeroengine mechanic LACJake Shantz, S/L Donald

Patterson DFC, and airframemechanic LAC Don Forster with“Willie The Wolf From The West”

“W-Willie” was damaged on 10October 1944 but after repairs carriedon to complete a total of 58 operationswith No. 426 Squadron. After beingdamaged again in an accident, it wastransferred to No. 408 Squadron RCAFon 20 April 1945.

Both “Ol Daid Eye” and “Williethe Wolf From The West” are amongfourteen panels of Halifax nose art thatwere cut from RCAF aircraft that wereabout to be scrapped following the war.They are currently on display at theCanadian War Museum in Ottawa.

“Ol Daid Eye” in 1945Photo: F/L Harold Lindsay

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PHIL BLPHIL BLPHIL BLPHIL BLPHIL BLAAAAACK TRIBCK TRIBCK TRIBCK TRIBCK TRIBUTEUTEUTEUTEUTE

In 2005, Dr. Phil Black of White Rock, BritishColumbia donated a 1:12 scale flying model ofHalifax MZ-516 to the museum. Phil had flown inthis aircraft as a navigator with No. 76 SquadronRAF. Marked "MP-V", it was known as "Vera theVirgin”. While returning from a raid on Mainz andflying at 7000 feet over East Anglia, the starboardouter engine began vibrating. Attempts to feather thepropeller were unsuccessful and with the situationdeteriorating rapidly, the order to abandon wasgiven. Three of the crewmembers were able to leavethe Halifax before it crashed. This hadbeen the aircraft's 77th operation.

Dr. Black attended the dedicationof Canada's Bomber CommandMemorial at the museum in 2005.Sadly, while returning home Phil and afriend were killed when the light aircraftthey were flying aboard struck amountain during bad weather. Clarencepainted this artwork in memory of Philwho he had met at the dedicationceremony in Nanton. It is based on awartime photo taken by Phil of the thenose art carried by Halifax MZ-516.

Phil Black in Nanton[Photo: Jim Blondeau]

“Vera the Virgin” flying modelbuilt by Phil Black and currently

on display at the museum. Itcarries a simplified version of

the original nose art.

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PRESS ON REGPRESS ON REGPRESS ON REGPRESS ON REGPRESS ON REGARDLESSARDLESSARDLESSARDLESSARDLESS

Lancaster ED-905 carried markings “BQ-F” and was known as"Press-On-Regardless”. With F/L D.A. Shaw at the controls, she flew herone hundredth operation on 2 November 1944 with No. 550 Squadron RAF.ED-905 had previously served with both No. 103 and No. 166 Squadrons.

The aircraft’s nose art illustrated the aircrew’s off-duty interests inyoung ladies and beer. It is notsurprising that most of the servicemenin England actively sought romanticencounter with British ladies. A youngman doing so was referred to as a “wolf”and two of them appear on the aircraft’sshield above a lady and a mug of beer.

The motto "AD EXTRE MUM!"appears to be Latin but in fact derivesfrom “Add extra beer Mom”, likely apub-based expression. "Press-On-Regardless" above the bomb tally refersto the crew’s approach to the youngladies and beer. The cross in Scottishcolors that forms part of the crest likelyreflects "Jock" Shaw’s ancestry.

F/L D.A. “Jock” Shaw about totake off on the aircraft’s one

hundredth operation on 2November 1944.

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RRRRRCAF TRIBCAF TRIBCAF TRIBCAF TRIBCAF TRIBUTEUTEUTEUTEUTE

Clarence painted this artwork to commemorate the 9,919 membersof the Royal Canadian Air Force who were killed while serving with BomberCommand. Hundreds of other Canadians were lost while serving with theRoyal Air Force. The RCAF's motto,"Per Ardua ad Astra", was the same asthat of the Royal Air Force, andtranslates to "Through Adversity to theStars”.

Victor Snowden enlisted in theRCAF in March 1943, trained as an air-gunner, and reported to No. 433Squadron RCAF one year later. In thephoto at right, he is shown standing infront of the rear escape hatch of hisHalifax NP-944. The photo clearlyshows how the roundel markings of red,white, blue and yellow covered a largeportion of the escape hatch. Victorsurvived his operational tour and neverhad to use the escape hatch, buthundreds of other Canadians owe theirlives to this little door.

Note the shape of the Halifaxescape hatch and the location ofthe RAF roundel behind Victor

Snowden. The top of the hatch isdirectly behind his ears.

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Canada’s Bomber Command Memorial in Nanton, Alberta[Photo: Brent Armstrong]

Clarence painted his tribute to the 9919 airmen on the originalescape hatch door from Halifax NA-337. During the night of 24 April 1945,the aircraft was struck by German flak as it flew over the railway bridge atthe south end of Lake Mjosa in Norway. With the right wing on fire the crewhad only one option -crash land in the frigid waters of the lake. Shortlybefore NA-337 hit the water, one of the crew removed the rear escapehatch door and it fell into the lake. Most likely it was F/Sgt. A. Taylor, thewireless operator/air gunner.

Fifty years later Halifax NA-337 was raised from 750 feet below thesurface of Lake Mjosa by a team led by Canadian Karl Kjasgaard. Theaircraft is now fully restored and on display at the Royal Canadian AirForce Museum in Trenton, Ontario. The aircraft’s rear escape hatch wasrecovered from the lake bottom separate from the main fuselage.

Halifax NA-337 at the RCAF Memorial Museum[Photo: Mike Berry]

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SEVEN DSEVEN DSEVEN DSEVEN DSEVEN DWARFSWARFSWARFSWARFSWARFS

During June 1939, Walt Disney received a letter from Aviation CadetBert Stanley of the U.S. Navy, who was training in California. He suggestedthat Disney might design an insignia for the aircraft squadron aboard theNavy carrier, USS Wasp. Disney turned the job over to artist Hank Porter,and from his pen came a belligerent wasp wearing six boxing gloves. Thenew design was painted on aircraft, flying jackets, letterheads, andanything else that was handy including dishes. It wasn't long before theDisney insignia was known from coast to coast in the United States.

Requests for insignia began to pour in each day to the Walt Disneystudios. So Disney gave Porter a job, “Make as many insignias as youreceive letters for.” The new design team grew to five artists who createdover 1200 insignia during the war for units from Canada, Britain, the FreeFrench, the Free Polish, as well as numerous American ones.

The RCAF received 32 insignia officially created for them by theWalt Disney team. The “Seven Dwarfs”that are pictured on a "V for Victory"was designed for "A" Flight of No. 15Service Flying Training School atClaresholm, Alberta. Although theartwork may have been painted onsome of the flight’s Cessna Cranes,Clarence has been unable to find anyphotographs showing the image on anaircraft.

Cessna Cranes of “A” Flight atNo.15 SFTS in Claresholm

during March 1942[Photo: LAC Gafney]

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SNOSNOSNOSNOSNOWBIRD PRESENTWBIRD PRESENTWBIRD PRESENTWBIRD PRESENTWBIRD PRESENTAAAAATIONTIONTIONTIONTION

Clarence titled this panel, “The Three Faces of No. 431 Squadron”. Itwas presented to No. 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (The Snowbirds) bythe Nanton Lancaster Society at the 2006 Rocky Mountain House Airshowand commemorates the transferring of Tutor #177 from the CanadianArmed Forces to the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum. The aircraft flew withthe Snowbirds for ten seasons.

No. 431’s official badge was the head of an Iroquois Indian. Duringthe course of the Second World War, the squadron flew Wellingtons,Halifaxes, and the Canadian-built Mk. X Lancasters.

The first face on the artwork is taken from the work of an unknownartist who in 1944 painted a 12’x12’ image of an Iroquois Chief on thesquadron’s headquarters building at Croft with the words "The Home of theIroquois" written below.

The second face is taken from a World War II Royal Air Force posterand represents the 367 airmen who were lost while serving with No. 431Squadron during the war.

The third face honours the Canadian airmen who have flown with No.431 Air Demonstration Team (TheSnowbirds).

The artwork was painted onoriginal skin from Halifax NA-337 thatwas recovered from Lake Mjosa,Norway in 1995 and which is nowrestored and on display at the RCAFMuseum in Trenton, Ontario. It includesa flak hole above the Halifax’s engineand the original green paint in the outerportions of the panel.

Clarence (left) and museumpresident Dan Fox beside Tutor

#177 as the Snowbird Teamarrives for the Rocky Airshow

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STSTSTSTSTORK WITH BORK WITH BORK WITH BORK WITH BORK WITH BABY IABY IABY IABY IABY I

Featuring a stork carrying a baby that has just dropped a bomb, thisartwork first appeared at No. 5 Service Flying Training School in Brantford,Ontario. The school was one of 29 in Canada that operated under theBritish Commonweath Air Training Plan to provide advanced pilot training.Most of the graduates eventually served with Bomber Command. The noseart was placed on the Avro Anson aircraft in "A" Flight [Young Squadron]and was painted by L.A.C. Douglas Nolan.

Later, the nose art appeared on at least two different aircraft onoperating RCAF Bomber Squadrons in England.

"Stork Baby I" honours the Ansons of "A" Flight at No. 5 SFTS andis painted on a piece of cowling from the Canadian-built Avro Anson Mk IISerial #8503 that was assigned to No. 38 Service Flying Training School inEstevan, Saskatchewan during January,1942. Over the next four years,hundreds of future pilots entered andflew this Anson, recorded the serialnumber in their log book, and movedon. Following the end of the war, Anson#8503 was flown to Vulcan and sold asscrap to an Alberta farmer.

Avro Anson Mk. II

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STSTSTSTSTORK WITH BORK WITH BORK WITH BORK WITH BORK WITH BABY IIABY IIABY IIABY IIABY II

Following its introduction at No.5 Service Flying Training School inBrantford, Ontario, this nose art madeits way across the Atlantic, appearingfirst on a on a Halifax Bomber that wasflying with No. 419 Squadron RCAFbased at Middleton St. George,Durham, England. This version of theartwork differed from the original in thatthe stork was not carrying bombs in itsfeet. It is this artwork that Clarence haspainted on the panel shown above.

In August 1943, the nose artappeared on a Lancaster Mk. II thatflew with No. 408 Squadron RCAF atLinton-on-Ouse, England. In thispainting the stork was again carryingbombs in its feet. Stork-Baby on a

No. 408 Squadron Lancaster

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STORK-WELLINGTONSTORK-WELLINGTONSTORK-WELLINGTONSTORK-WELLINGTONSTORK-WELLINGTON

This nose art features a stork that has the tail of a WellingtonBomber. In place of a baby, the stork carries a large orange bomb for theenemy. There was no associated name for the aircraft. The artwork waspainted by Floyd “Skip” Rutledge on an RCAF Wellington Bomber that wasserving with No. 420 Squadron in NorthAfrica.

“Skip” Rutledge joined the RCAFin October 1940. After training as anaero-engine mechanic and serving atNo. 3 SFTS at Calgary, he was postedoverseas to No. 420 (Snowy Owl)Squadron RCAF. His first nose artfeatured the profile of a native Indian infull head-dress and was painted on atwin-engined Hampden Bomber.

No. 420 Squadron wastransferred to North Africa in May 1943to support the invasions of Sicily andItaly. By this time, the squadron wasflying Vickers Wellington Bombers.While in North Africa, Skip painted noseart on a total of five Wellingtons. One

“The Swoose” in North Africa

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was named “The Swoose” and another called“Scarlet Harlot”.

The squadron returned to England fromTunisia during the fall of 1943, and was based inYorkshire until the end of the war.

While in England, “Skip” went on to paintartwork on four Halifaxes, beginning with “Birds ofPrey”, “The Champ”, “Pappy’s Gang,” and his mostfamous, “Fangs of Fire”.

Floyd Rutledge donated his suitcase withNo. 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron artwork to the museum

“Skip Rutledge”

“Fangs of Fire” was painted onHalifax LV-953 that survived 73

operations. This is aphotograph of the original noseart that survived as well and is

currently on display at theCanadian War Museum.

Photo: Ray Lepp

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SUGSUGSUGSUGSUGARS BLARS BLARS BLARS BLARS BLUESUESUESUESUES

During January 1945, wireless operator/air gunner Sgt. Tom Waltonpainted artwork on the nose of Canadian-built Lancaster KB-864 of No. 428Squadron RCAF. The painting was based on the Esquire pinup for January1945 and was given the name "Sugar’s Blues”, the title of a very popularwartime swing tune. Each of KB-864’s operational flights was recorded bya little diving girl based on another Varga figure, in this case from theAugust 1944 Varga calendar and similar in appearance to the trademark ofthe Jantzen swimming suit company.

On the starboard side Tompainted artwork of a white ghostdropping a bomb. This image derivedfrom the fact that No. 428’s nicknamewas “The Ghost Squadron”. All of thenose art of KB-864 was painted usingfour standard issue colours: Red,White, Blue and Yellow.

Clarence painted this artwork onthe museum’s full-sized Lancasterreplica nose section that the Societyacquired following its use in the film,“Map of the Human Heart”.

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Tom Walton was living in Hamilton, Ontario when a friend visited themuseum and noticed his name on the museum’s signage regardingClarence’s artwork. When Tom heard of this he contacted the museum andmade arrangements to come to Nanton.

Note that Sugar’s Blues’ dresswas blue in 2003 in the photograph atright whereas it is green in thephotograph of the replica on theprevious page and in the replica paintedby Tom Walton. Virtually all the wartimephotos of nose art are black and whiteand Clarence often has to guess at thecolours. In this case he had originallychosen blue for the dress. When,during discussions with Tom at themuseum, he found out that it wasactually green on Lancaster KB-864,Clarence repainted Sugar’s Blues’dress on the museum’s cockpit replica.

Tom Walton, who painted the original “Sugar’s Blues” onLancaster KB-864 in 1945, painted this replica in 2003. He

presented it to Clarence at the opening of the museum’s noseart display. Later, Clarence donated the panel to the museum.

Clarence (in the cockpit) withTom Walton and Sugar’s Blues

[Courtesy: Kyle Whitehead]

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VENI VEDI VICIVENI VEDI VICIVENI VEDI VICIVENI VEDI VICIVENI VEDI VICI

Halifax NP-714 was initially assigned to No. 426 Squadron RCAFbut flew no operations. It was then transferred to No. 408 Squadron and on8 August 1944, was flown on its third operation by F/O R.E. Johnson'screw. NP-714 became "their" aircraft. The crew called the aircraft "Veni-Vedi-Vici”, Julius Caesar’s well known quotation meaning, “I came, I saw, Iconquered”. The Johnson crew flew 25 operations in their Halifax andcompleted a tour of 30 operations on 28 December 1944.

"Veni-Vedi-Vici" went on to complete a total of 66 operations, thelast against Wangerooge in Holland. Interestingly, the artwork was firstpainted on canvas before being doped onto the fuselage.

The nose art did not include a name. It simply featured a girl drummajor and a "V for Victory" as theaircraft carried the markings "EQ-V”. Itis thought that the girl was based on acomic character who appeared with thefictitious Canadian band leader,"Drummy Young”. Young was alwaysshown as fighting against the forces ofevil during World War II and may of theplots involved well-endowed young

“Veni Vedi Vici” in 1945[Photo: F/L Harold Lindsay]

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ladies and a scantly dressed girl drummajor. These young female characterswere always seen at the mercy of someevil villain until rescued in the nick oftime by Drummy Young. The artist wasJerry Lapare.

The development of Canadiancomic characters was encouraged bythe passing of the War Exchange Acton 6 December 1940 under whichcertain "non-essential" goods werebanned from being imported intoCanada, including comic books. WhenCyril and Gene Bell, two brothers whoprinted banner advertising for Toronto'sfleet of streetcars, heard of the ban theybegan printing Canadian comic booksfeaturing Canadian heroes. Thesecomics were known as "whites" because they lacked the colourassociated with the American comics. By the end of the war a Canadiancomic book industry was flourishing and over twenty million had beenprinted. All retained a similar theme based on patriotic Canadian attitudestowards the war.

“Veni Vedi Vici” is one of fourteen panels of Halifax nose art that wascut from RCAF Halifax aircraft that were about to be scrapped after thewar. It is currently on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

The crew of Veni Vedi ViciRear (l-r) F/Sgt Bruce Devlin (flight engineer), F/Sgt Gordon

McKnight (rear gunner), F/Sgt Scott (wireless operator), FSgtKierstead (mid-upper gunner)

Front (l-r) F/O Paddy Wilson (bomb aimer), F/O RobertJohnson (pilot), F/O Gene Messmer (navigator)

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X-TERMINX-TERMINX-TERMINX-TERMINX-TERMINAAAAATTTTTOROROROROR

Lancaster KB-732 carried the markings “VR-X” while serving withNo. 419 Squadron RCAF where it was referred to as “X-Terminator”. Theaircraft completed 84 operations against the enemy, more than any otherCanadian-built Lancaster. The twoswaztikas on her nose refer to thedestruction of a JU-88 and an FW-190fighter by “X-Terminator’s” air gunners.

But KB-732 wasn’t the firstLancaster to be designated “VR-X”.Lanc KB-713 was known as “X-Ray”until it was shot down by a JU-88nightfighter while attacking enemyrailyards during the night of 12 May1944. P/O B.F. Edwards and crew wereall killed. KB-732 became the new “VR-X” on 15 May 1944.

This illustrious aircraft left forCanada in early June, piloted by F/LDave Lambroughton and crew. Landingin Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on 10 June, itspent the summer in Nova Scotia as

“X-Terminator” just prior totakeoff on its 84th operation

(l-r) G/C J.F. MacDonald,A/C C.R. Dunlap, F/S Don

McTaggart (rear gunner),AVM C.M. “Black Mike” McEwan,

F/L Barney Wickham (pilot)[Photo: Don McTaggart]

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“Touching Down after 84”This painting by John Rutherford was unveiled in 2001 by Lt. Col.

Steve Hill, c/o of No. 419 Squadron, and Howard Witwer, a wartime pilotwith the squadron who flew three operations in “X-Terminator.

“X-Terminator” at Pearce, Albertain 1945

[Photo: Ray Wise]

preparations were made for the squadron to enter combat in the Pacific.But with the dropping of the atomic bombs, the war ended there as well.

On a single day in September 1945, “KB-732” was one of 83Lancasters to land at the former No. 2 Flying Instructors School at Pearce,Alberta, just east of Fort Macleod. It must have been a spectacular sightand stories have been told of the pilots flying at low level over nearbyfarms, terrifying farm animals prior to landing. Seventeen of this armada ofwartime bombers were squeezed into the hangars and placed into long-term storage. The remainder were neatly arranged on the old tarmac. Theyhad their engines run-up each morning until they were flown to otherstorage areas in Alberta. This took six months, the operation being carriedout by Ray Wise and three other RCAFmechanics. “X-Terminator” waseventually flown to Calgary, placed inlong-term storage, and then scrapped in1948 -a sad ending for the greatest ofthe 430 Canadian-built Lancasters.

There was no image associatedwith the name “X-Terminator.” Clarencepainted the full scale replica of thename and bomb tally accumulated byX-Terminator on a wing panel fromLancaster FM-107. This aircraft wasflown Canada to Britain during 1945 butarrived too late to be assigned to asquadron and participate in the war.

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ZOMBIE IZOMBIE IZOMBIE IZOMBIE IZOMBIE I

Halifax RG-453 was delivered toNo. 426 Squadron RCAF in early 1945but did not complete any operations.Transferred to No. 408 Squadron, sheflew her first operation on 27 February.Zombie survived the war, her lastoperation being flown on 25 April toWangerooge, Germany. The operationstotal was recorded with twenty redMaple Leafs.

The day after the war ended inEurope, No. 408 Squadron receivednotice that they would be part of “TigerForce”. Although never required, thiswas to be the Bomber Group that wouldbe transferred to the Pacific to fightagainst Japan. The squadron received24 new Canadian-built Lancasters andtraining began. “Zombie” was painted onLancaster KB-947 that also featuredshark’s teeth on the engine cowlings.

W.H. Gross (pilot) and E. McLeish(air gunner) painting Zombie

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ZOMBIE IIZOMBIE IIZOMBIE IIZOMBIE IIZOMBIE II

Two Halifax aircraft of No. 432 Squadron RCAF carried this nose artthat was inspired by the badge of the 339th Fighter Squadron of the UnitedStates Army Air Force. MZ-582 was marked “QO-Z” and flew a total of 38operations between February and July 1944. The little character is agremlin riding two bald eagles. As well as the bomb tally, the aircraft wasmarked with a set of wings to indicate the completion of a tour ofoperations. For Bomber Command aircrew, a tour of duty was generallythirty operations and upon its completion, a special badge similar to theone shown above the bomb tally in the photo at lower-right was issued tothe airman. Nose artists sometimeshonoured aircraft in a similar manner aswas done with Halifax MZ-582.

During August 1944, MZ-582 wasreplaced by NP-774 that was coded“QO-T”. This aircraft flew until 20 March1945. Following the war, NP-774 wastransferred to the Royal Air Force, oneof only a few Halifaxes to continue toserve postwar. It flew until 1949although its nose art was painted overduring its RAF service.

“Zombie” had flown 34 sortieswhen this photo was taken

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ZOMBIE IIIZOMBIE IIIZOMBIE IIIZOMBIE IIIZOMBIE III

Lancaster LL-725 completed twenty operations while serving withNo. 432 Squadron RCAF prior to being transferred to No. 408 Squadron. Itwas assigned to pilot Claude Franklin whose crew included rear gunnerGeorge Oliver. When LL-725 arrrived at its new squadron it had “C forCharlie” in orange letters painted on the nose together with two swaztikas,indicating fighters shot down, and a tally made up of five bombs and fifteenorange maple leafs.

The aircraft was to be coded “EQ-Z” at No. 408 Squadron and knownas “Z for Zombie”.

George Oliver painted the new“Zombie” artwork on LL-725. He recalls,“On our 8th operation to Essen,Germany on 24 March 1944 we lost anengine and had the option to dump ourbomb load and return to base. The fullcrew said, ‘No -Carry on.’ We arrivedover the target late and all alone. Afterthe release of our bomb load, 'All HellBroke Loose' and we were lucky toescape the intense ack-ack. On ourreturn to base we found out that wewere posted as lost in action. After this

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experience we all agreed ‘Zombie’ (return of the living dead) should becomethe nose art.” George then painted it on the Lancaster and on his suitcaseas well.

Of the art work George recalls, “Zombie” was born in myimagination, an angered corpse emerging from the grave and brought backto life. I painted it on our Lancaster LL-725.” Zombie carried a bomb under hisright arm and a .303 calibre machinegun under his left. George added to theoriginal tally of fifteen orange mapleleafs by placing white ones for theoperations the aircraft flew with No. 408Squadron.

George completed his tour of 30operations, 22 of which were flownaboard "Zombie”. He also flew twoadditional operations, one as a mid-under gunner and a second as mid-upper gunner. George says that hemust have come back from leave earlybecause the money ran out and filled infor something to do.

George Oliver, currently living in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, has donatedhis suitcase with the “Zombie” nose art image to the museum

George Oliver with his wartime“Zombie” suitcase

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A rare colour photo of World War II nose art featuringGuy Gibson’s “Admiral Prune” (Lancaster W-4118)

(l-r) Cpl. H.L. Paton, Cpl P.J. Kop, LAC Matthew C. Ferguson 23 May, 1944[Canadian Forces PL-29630]

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THE AUTHORA geophysicist, teacher, and interpretive guide in the Canadian

Rockies, Dave Birrell was a founding director of the Nanton LancasterSociety. One of hundreds of volunteers, he has been primarily involved withthe development of the display material in the museum and with theresearch and organization associated with the museum’s special events.

Dave is also the author of “Baz”, the biography of Ian Bazalgette VC,“FM159 –The Lucky Lancaster”, “People and Planes -Stories from theNanton Lancaster Air Museum”, “Calgary’s Mountain Panorama”, “FiftyRoadside Panoramas in the Canadian Rockies”, and“www.peakfinder.com”.

The content of this book is a collection of images and informationvirtually all of which have been made available to the museum by ClarenceSimonsen.

To begin with, we must acknowledge Clarence’s generous donationof the nose art replicas and other artwork, photographs of which arepresented in this book. The museum considers itself most fortunate to beable to display the collection.

As well, all of the wartime photographs in the book, unlessotherwise noted, have been acquired with the cooperation of ClarenceSimonsen. They represent only a small portion of the huge collection thathe has accumulated over his years of researching the history of aircraftnose art.

We are also pleased to include images of paintings by Andy Kindretand John Rutherford, whose collections we are also honoured to display atthe museum.

And finally, the information and stories related to the artwork in thebook are derived from Clarence’s research as well.

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[Canadian Forces PL-44205]

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