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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 5, 2014 13:11:06 GMT 12
Visiting Allan Alexander over Xmas he showed me the model he has had since 1944  It is marked as his 75 Squadron Stirling BK777 AA-U with the great nose art 'Alexanders Rag Time Crew' referring to his five kiwi crew, one Pom and a Rear Gunner from Texas   After his tour of 27 ops (20 in BK777) Allan was posted to 1653 HCU at Chedurugh again on Stirlings. There a ground crew engineer crafted a wooden model complete with AA-U markings The modeller lacked any perspex and asked Allan about it. 'I will get you some' was the reply and that afternoon during a check flight in BK397 H4-K the port wheel came adrift while landing. The resulting ground loop ended with a Cat E Stirling but plenty of perspex.   Alan culdn't recall the name of the model maker but a month later at Joe Tomlins in Tairua his photograph album held a snap of the Stirling model and its makers name.  So now 70 years after it was built, Allan knows the maker but denies pancaking a Stirling to provide the perspex |
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Post by komata on Feb 5, 2014 16:09:59 GMT 12
Pjw4118
That is beautiful model, and what a history; it's probably one of the most 'realistic' and 'authentic'models (in more ways than just its totally-authentic colour scheme) on the planet. Loved the bit about the 'Perspex". Thanks for sharing your 'find' with us.
A question though, because the model IS part of New Zealand's heritage for all sorts of reasons (and has a unique history of its own) , and given the age of the owner and the model's age and provenance, do you know if any arrangement have been made concerning the model's future after its owners death? It would be an absolute shame for it to be discarded (as can happen). The RNZAF Museum perhaps?
Again, thanks for the pics - as modellers, we have come a long, long way.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 5, 2014 16:47:01 GMT 12
Great story and photos Peter.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 5, 2014 18:44:44 GMT 12
That is an incredible model given its age and the material available at the time. Sgt Bowles must have been a very skilled craftsman. Let's hope it's future is secured and Allan's family understand it's importance.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 7, 2014 10:37:05 GMT 12
Allan and his son are well aware of the models special nature but now realise its historic significance.
The model wont be lost
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Post by komata on Feb 7, 2014 12:14:28 GMT 12
pjw4118
Thank you; it's very reassuring to know that.
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Post by fwx on Feb 7, 2014 16:03:11 GMT 12
A beautiful model, and a beautiful story! Thanks Peter for sharing it, and recording yet another piece of history that could have been so easily lost. Especially valuable to us with an interest in 75(NZ) Sqdn, but as others have already said, a treasure and story that will be of interest to most NZ'ers.
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Feb 10, 2014 2:12:44 GMT 12
Hi Peter, I am thinking of writing to Corgi to see if they will consider this for a future subject for the very nicely done 1/72 diecast Stirling that they make. They have done a great job with this, released just over year ago & three have been released including both Stirling VC winners (Arthur Allan & Ron Middelton). I was looking for a 75 Sqn scheme to put forward & this one is fantastic.... it would tell the story to thousands of collectors worldwide & make many aware of not just this amazing story but the very real link to the mighty Stirling & the many Kiwi aircrew that served in them.  |
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 10, 2014 11:37:18 GMT 12
I am sure that Allan would be tickled pink if Corgi did a set of markings for it.
We ( NZBCA) are having artwork done of AA-U to join a collection of notable aircraft flown by Kiwis. The criteria include good nose art.
So we have The Captains Fancy , Alexanders Rag Time Crew , the Te Kooti Stirling, the Grim Reaper, a 109 sq Mossie and D for Duck Wellington with Thopmas Frederick Duck Lanc of Nick Carters.
Maybe others can put their suggestions.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 10, 2014 12:24:52 GMT 12
How about Roy Calvert's No. 50 Squadron Lancaster R5702 VN-S Taipo? It is cool, it has a devil chasing Hitler nose art. Taipo of course translated as devil.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 10, 2014 13:59:47 GMT 12
Can you post a picture ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 10, 2014 14:38:17 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Feb 10, 2014 16:17:07 GMT 12
Wow that's either flak or Night fighter damage? Wonder if she flew again.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 10, 2014 16:26:02 GMT 12
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Post by davidd on Feb 11, 2014 9:39:38 GMT 12
Some observant types may have noticed in one of the photographs included in the first post of this thread an image of the page of a log book. They may also have noticed that a "F/O Stokes" was the pilot under instruction when that Stirling was pranged. I wondered if this might have been the pilot N A D Stokes, RNZAF, who featured in a another thread on this Forum, who was lost while flying a Lancaster with 75 (NZ) Squadron in August 1944. However a quick check reveals this was NOT that man, so if anybody was wondering .... Strangely, N A D Stokes was also serving with an HCU at this time, but not the one mentioned on this thread.
David D
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 12, 2014 14:45:20 GMT 12
Thanks Dave for the photos , great.
Its just amazing they survived ,its looks like many of the bullets went right through. Maybe the armourers on the forum can tell if they are 20mm cannon hits around the cockpit and across the mainplane.
Its a very good piece on the Cambridge site about Calvert.
And David D , in the log book copies we have , its remarkable how often names pop up that are seen again later. Going back to Allans logbook page I have just spotted Lethbridge , perhaps he is the one on our vets lists. I really need to get another clerk to do the cross referencing as mine ,aka wife , has decided going out to work is easier.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 12, 2014 15:27:15 GMT 12
Thanks Dave for the photos , great. No problem. Indeed, sadly one did not, but it's quite amazing that Roy got the aircraft back to England in that state. I'd be very interested to see the official report after this operation, has anyone got access to No. 50 Squadron records? Thanks very much Peter, I appreciate that. I totally agree with that. Often looking through logbooks I see connections to others who I have also come across in research. Sometimes in a pilot's training on Tiger Moths or Harvards I'll see an instructor's name and it will be someone who later went onto fly fighters and do well, etc. Or I'll see in the portion where the pilot who's logbook it is was instructing and I'll note some of their pupils went onto notable things too. So many interconnecting points. |
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Post by Ian Warren on Mar 8, 2014 9:34:52 GMT 12
That is a wonderful model and this to have this day, I did a screen/photoshop edit almost a year back - a very well known photo but replacing the back ground with a Flight Sim Short Stirling in No.75 codes , obviously they were red now I know - anyways a screen dedicated to Allan then .   |
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Post by longforgan on May 17, 2015 17:35:29 GMT 12
my painting of 'Alexanders Rag Time Crew' 1200x650 oil on canvas  |
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