Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 30, 2010 23:06:55 GMT 12
When No 1 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron equipped with Venturas in 1943, they were on the inventory of No. 10 Servicing Unit. I have been told by veterans who were on the squadron that every one of the aircraft had artworks on them when they were in new Zealand and for a period when they were in the Pacific. I believe they were eventually all removed by an order at Munda, except for Slippery Sam whichw as allwoed to stay on the aircraft.
I'm trying to piece together which aircraft carried what artworks. Soem of the art was of course applied in the Vega factory by Disney studio animators, and almost all the aircraft carried either Mickey Mosue or Donald Duck in some fashion., But other art was applied by the guys at Whenuapai too.
So far I have nailed the following down:
NZ4506 - Tom Mounsey's crew's aircraft carried a nose art featuring the Maori warrior off the shilling coin (later adopted by No. 3 Squadron) and the slogan PATU KAHA which seems to translte to Strike Forever. This aircraft also had a Mickey Mouse face on the port fuselage side aft of the roundel.
NZ4511 - I can't recall the pilot's name off hand but Bob Tilsley was a WOpAG on this aircraft - This aircraft had artwork on both side of the nose (most seem to have it only on the port side where the pilot sits) of three cards - all 2's, and called Slippery Sam which was a popular card game played on the squadron.
NZ4516 - Eric 'Spic' Spicer's crew's aircraft - carried the awesome nose art of the Maori legend of Maui capturing the sun in a net. It bears the slogan PATUA TE RA which seems to translate to Capture The Sun. This also had Mickey Mouse walking and waving between the port roundel and the belly gun.
NZ4518 - Not sure yet who's aircraft - this had a kiwi wearing a jacket on the nose.
Here are some that I don't know the number or crew of but have spotted in photos:
- In a poor photo of a belly landed PV-1 of No. 1 (BR) Sqn/10SU there's a stick figure on the nose which could be The Saint perhaps, and Donald Duck shouting with his hands at his cheeks on the side.
- A really good artwork of a dark coloured devil figure chasing a gangly looking Jap and sticking his pitchfork up his arse. There are three words above but I cannot make them out sadly.
- In the famous line-up photo of Venturas at Whenuapai where Slippery Sam is closet to the camera the next one along has a word on the starboard nose, curved. I cannot make out what it says and the serial isn't visible. Is this perhaps NZ4510 which was alledgedly named Tonawhai?
- There's the fuselage art of Micky Mouse rubbing his hands together and there's pawn shop balls above him.
There are undoubtedly others and I'd very much appreciate any tips, descriptions, serials, etc to try to compile a more definitive list.
When I was talkign with Bill Edhouse the other day he told me that the three cards on Slippery Sam were deemed fine to stay when all the other artwork was ordered to be wiped off in case aircraft were shot down and it offended the Japs. He said the three cards with the 2's on was considered lucky. I just noticed lookig at a shot he took with his illegal box brownie there are five Venturas lined up near the strip and all seem to have the same white symbol on the nose, which looks like the three cards. Did they perhaps adot the three cards as their squadron or SU motto after the other art was ordered off the planes? It's a very poor photo which I've scanned to high res. If I posted it here you'd see nothing.
I'm trying to piece together which aircraft carried what artworks. Soem of the art was of course applied in the Vega factory by Disney studio animators, and almost all the aircraft carried either Mickey Mosue or Donald Duck in some fashion., But other art was applied by the guys at Whenuapai too.
So far I have nailed the following down:
NZ4506 - Tom Mounsey's crew's aircraft carried a nose art featuring the Maori warrior off the shilling coin (later adopted by No. 3 Squadron) and the slogan PATU KAHA which seems to translte to Strike Forever. This aircraft also had a Mickey Mouse face on the port fuselage side aft of the roundel.
NZ4511 - I can't recall the pilot's name off hand but Bob Tilsley was a WOpAG on this aircraft - This aircraft had artwork on both side of the nose (most seem to have it only on the port side where the pilot sits) of three cards - all 2's, and called Slippery Sam which was a popular card game played on the squadron.
NZ4516 - Eric 'Spic' Spicer's crew's aircraft - carried the awesome nose art of the Maori legend of Maui capturing the sun in a net. It bears the slogan PATUA TE RA which seems to translate to Capture The Sun. This also had Mickey Mouse walking and waving between the port roundel and the belly gun.
NZ4518 - Not sure yet who's aircraft - this had a kiwi wearing a jacket on the nose.
Here are some that I don't know the number or crew of but have spotted in photos:
- In a poor photo of a belly landed PV-1 of No. 1 (BR) Sqn/10SU there's a stick figure on the nose which could be The Saint perhaps, and Donald Duck shouting with his hands at his cheeks on the side.
- A really good artwork of a dark coloured devil figure chasing a gangly looking Jap and sticking his pitchfork up his arse. There are three words above but I cannot make them out sadly.
- In the famous line-up photo of Venturas at Whenuapai where Slippery Sam is closet to the camera the next one along has a word on the starboard nose, curved. I cannot make out what it says and the serial isn't visible. Is this perhaps NZ4510 which was alledgedly named Tonawhai?
- There's the fuselage art of Micky Mouse rubbing his hands together and there's pawn shop balls above him.
There are undoubtedly others and I'd very much appreciate any tips, descriptions, serials, etc to try to compile a more definitive list.
When I was talkign with Bill Edhouse the other day he told me that the three cards on Slippery Sam were deemed fine to stay when all the other artwork was ordered to be wiped off in case aircraft were shot down and it offended the Japs. He said the three cards with the 2's on was considered lucky. I just noticed lookig at a shot he took with his illegal box brownie there are five Venturas lined up near the strip and all seem to have the same white symbol on the nose, which looks like the three cards. Did they perhaps adot the three cards as their squadron or SU motto after the other art was ordered off the planes? It's a very poor photo which I've scanned to high res. If I posted it here you'd see nothing.
