1/48 Lockheed Ventura

[Dave Homewood]

With the imminent release of the superb looking 1/48th scale Lockheed PV-1 Ventura from Revell, seen here:
www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1312845807/No+buzz+about+the+new+1-48+Revell+PV-1-

... there is now also a decal release from AeroScale that includes two options for RNZAF Venturas:

www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10216&mode=thread&order=0

The options are:
NZ4509 - the aircraft wore a devil artwork on the fuselage with the speech bubble saying "Bake 'em, Roast 'em, or Boil 'em in Oil." This was the personal aircraft of Don Ayson and was the aircraft he flew on the 24th of December 1943 when they were attacked by 6 to 9 Japanese Zekes. He and crew Sydney Aldridge, William Williams, George 'Red' Hannah and John Williams fought off the attack. The crew shot down three definate enemy aircraft and scored probables on two others. Aldridge was wounded but not too seriously. NZ4509 received 21 bullet holes in the attack.

NZ4511 - Unfortunately there may be an error with this set of decals. The sheet claims NZ4511 to be the well known "Slippery Sam", as do several books. This isn't correct, according to one of Slippery Sam's regular crew members, Bob Tilsley.

Slippery Sam was the personal aircraft of Ian Page and his crew, Neville Holmes, Bob Tilsley, Bob Blanchard, and Stan Nuttall. But that aircraft was actually NZ4512, Bob says. Ian Page had come up with the nose art himself, based on his favourite card game, called Slippery Sam.

There are several photos around of Sliuppery Sam but none that i have seen seem to have conclusive evidence of the serial numner on the fuselage or the tail.

NZ4511 was the personal aircraft of Bert Caisley, Bob Harper, Robert Doak, C.R. Thomas and Don Syme. If Bob is correct, and I have no reason to dout him, NZ4511 did not carry the Slippery Sam nose art. Thanks to Peter Lewis I have a copy of Bert Caisley's logbook which confirms this is the aircraft he took to Guadalacanal and flew a fair bit in the early part of the tour. So it makes sense that Bert's was NZ4511 and Ian's was NZ4512, thus NZ4512 was actually Slippery Sam. So the decal, like several books and websites, is very likely to be incorrect.

[rholland]

NZ's own Malcolm Laird also does decals for NZ4509 and NZ4511, see www.venturapublications.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=83&products_id=269

Given that he does decals for other Venturas in 1/72 perhaps more will be released when the 1/48 kit appears?

[Damon]

'Slippery Sam' lettering was never in red.The lettering should be in yellow.

[Dave Homewood]

Damon, in Malcolm Laird's book Pacific Twins he states:
"Although some sources suggest that "Slippery Sam" is yellow, careful examination of black and white photos reveal that the shade of the hearts and diamonds playing cards, undoubtedly red, perfectly matches the shade of the words 'Slippery Sam'."

[Damon]

According to Peter M ,Slipper Sam is in yellow.he said this two nights ago.They would not have had the lettering in red because all insignia except fin flashes had elemiinated red to avoid 'confusion' with Japanese colours.The decals are slightly incorrect was well on the sheet that you linked to.Yellow outer circles on wing roundels is incorrect.Apparently they are going to correct them I understand. On page 37 of malcolms book Pacific Twins the nose of Slipper Sam is visible.The colour 'appears' to be in a lighter shade.Perhaps yellow?

[Dave Homewood]

For the record the No. 1 Squadron Operations Record Book records that Ian Page, Neville Holmes, Bob Tilsley, Bob Blanchard and Stan Nuttall deaprted from Whenuapai on the 17th of October 1943, in the first wave of the ferrying of the squadron to Guadalcanal, in NZ4512.

And on the 24th of October 1943 Bert Caisley and his crew as detailed above flew north in their aircraft, NZ4511. This is confirmed by loooking at the ORB and Bert's logbook.

As Page's crew were photographed in front of their own aircraft 'Slippery Sam' on the day they left, I think it is conclusive that 'Slippery Sam' was indeed NZ4512, and both sets of decals and other written and internet sources all have it wrong.

[Damon]

The plot thickens!

[Dave Homewood]

I think maybe "the truth solidifies" is more appropriate. It's not the first time that decal manufacturers have got an RNZAF subject wrong due to lack of in-depth research and the continuation of myths that were wrong many years ago and never corrected. Take the Esma Lee P-40 case that I proved to be a different serial number from what all the decal people have purported over the years. And also Ventura has the colours of Avenger "Plonky"s nose art wrong too, which is inexcusable when there was so much information available.

[Damon]

Thats why in my opinion a pilots logbook holds so much value.Its uncommon to have entries incorrect.To sell one or 'give it the biff'.Appalling in my view.

[Dave Homewood]

I agree with you 150%. Pilots and aircrew's logbooks hold so much amazing information.

Last year I visited the now late Noel Arnott, who was in No. 3 (GR) Squadron at the very beginning (April 1941) and stayed with them when they went up to Guadalcanal. He told me a story about that day that the 13 Hudsons left Whenuapai to fly north to New Caledonia, a story that only happened to his aircraft and is totally unrecorded in official records. But his logbook confirmed it, and his personal memories added context to it. The story will be in the book, so I won't reveal it here. If I hadn't made the effort to visit him that day I would never have known about this occurrence. Details like that in logbooks are pretty excellent.

Many people, pilots expecially, wrote lots of details into the logbook for each flight and often they are a great insight, like a diary of the day. I love reading through logbooks, often you see WWII aircraft that are still around in musuems or even still flying.

[northcro]

Damon I agree it is appalling that some logbooks have been given the biff. Unfortunately this has been so common over the years when air crew have passed away and family members clearing out personal effects do not realize the historical value of such log books. The same applies with valuable family photographs if you are researching family history. I had that happen when my grandmother passed away and her large collection of family photographs and letters from relatives overseas in the US, Australia and UK including letters from family members who served overseas during WWII were destroyed by ignorant family members. Over the years I have picked up a couple of log books that have been thrown out and appeared at waste tips. They certainly tell a story and give great insight, especially those who did their initial training in New Zealand and went on to Canada as part of the Empire Training Scheme and the UK during their service.

[Dave Homewood]

Who's logbooks do you have, out of interest. Maybe they can help with someone's research.

I only own one original logbook, that of Richard "Dick" Branch, given to me by his neice who told me she was going to throw it out unless I took it. I was most grateful and it has proven very useful in my research. She was going to throw it away but happened to spot a newspaper article about my research and offered it to me. Thank goodness! He was a Pacific Air Gunner in Hudsons and Venturas.

[dewobz]

I find it interesting that AeroScale would produce decals for NZ4509 & NZ4511 to begin with - the 2 subjects already thoroughly catered for - rather than seek out other examples. Even Zotz, who provide several others on their 'Ocean Raiders' sheet, have clearly taken them all from Ventura Publications 'Pacific Twins'. These sets provide a wonderful source of roundels but as valuable in my decal collection are AeroMaster 45degree Yellow Code numbers, other's various code letters and serial numbers so I can depict other aircraft. There are plenty of great drawings & photographs available eg hobbyvista.com & 'Pacific Twins'. e.g NZ4515 re-painted in NZ Blue Sea Grey over NZ Sky, NZ4503 with field applied NS Sea Blue over Lt Grey repaint. Let's see something other than 'Slippery Sam'.