Wartime aircraft with nicknames and identities

[fwx]

Thanks for the photo Peter, which I've seen elsewhere, but now you've provided the clue to identifying her - "F/L Stokes' kite". The only trouble is that this could open up a whole new can of worms ...!

F/L Noel Stokes flew Lancaster NE148, AA-H, and this was the a/c he was lost in on 28/29 July 1944:

rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/20282/painting-ne148-which-flown-stokes

However your photo shows completely different nose art and name, "Hells Angel", not "Howzat".

According to a list of 75 Lancasters that I have, there was Donald Duck nose art on Lancaster R5692 (April-May 44 then to 90 Sqdn), and I'm wondering if R5692 may have been the a/c coded AA-H (and named "Howzat"?) BEFORE NE148 came on Squadron?

Cheers, Chris

[waynem]

Hi Chris,

Noel Stokes flew 9 different aircraft during his time with the squadron. The photo could be one of those nine.

Those aircraft were;

LL921 (twice)
HK554
PA967 (twice)
LL866
LL921 (four)
LL942
ME752 (five)
NE148 (ten)
LL751

Any of those a likely candidate?

Cheers
Wayne.

[fwx]

Hi Wayne,

I'm going by the "H" in the "Hell's Angel", which looks to be the nose code, ie., I believe the a/c is coded "H" and the "ell's Angel" has been added to that.

None of the other a/c you've listed appear to have been coded "H". AA-H during that period seems to have been NE148, and is recorded as such when she was shot down, according to For Your Tomorrow, and Glyn Strange's book.

The fact that Stokes crew flew NE148 ten times ties in with the caption "F/L Stokes' kite", which implies the plane they usually flew or considered their own.

Cheers, Chris

[pjw4118]

I always check the back of photos these days even in albums or frames. Its suprising what you find sometimes.
One classic was a certain squadron CO with his flight commanders. On the back was written "he's a proper bastard "
Another showed some WAAFs , the back had ticks and crosses. No scores though.

[nuuumannn]

it appeared to be more like a ballet TuTu, not the traditional Maori grass skirt!

You can tell the difference from that picture? A piu piu might be more likely... Just a hunch.

On second glacnes it has very small feet for a kiwi; it might just be a ballerina...

[Dave Homewood]

I came across this nose art in the book RAF And RCAF Aircraft Nose Art in World War II by Clarence Simonsen. The aircraft was Handley Page Halifax B Mk II DT619, of No. 419 Squadron. The book says the artwork was painted by Pilot Officer Ley Kenyon. The aircraft was flown by skipper Jack Macintosh and his crew and it had to make a forced landing after its third operation it was attacked by a night fighter that killed two crew members and badly wounded the navigator. Clearly one or more of the crew members must have been from New Zealand as this is a kiwi, and the bomb has the Canadian maple leaf on its side. Just for fun i also added some colour, I'm not sure if the colours are correct but I think it's a great example of nose art.

[errolmartyn]

Feb 9, 2014 16:23:10 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I came across this nose art in the book RAF And RCAF Aircraft Nose Art in World War II by Clarence Simonsen. The aircraft was Handley Page Halifax B Mk II DT619, of No. 419 Squadron. The book says the artwork was painted by Pilot Officer Ley Kenyon. The aircraft was flown by skipper Jack Macintosh and his crew and it had to make a forced landing after its third operation it was attacked by a night fighter that killed two crew members and badly wounded the navigator. Clearly one or more of the crew members must have been from New Zealand as this is a kiwi, and the bomb has the Canadian maple leaf on its side. Just for fun i also added some colour, I'm not sure if the colours are correct but I think it's a great example of nose art.

Here is the New Zealand connection:

From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999 :

CLARK, Wing Commander David Walter Sealy, DFC*, mid, (pff). NZ2314; Born Surbiton, Surrey, England, 18 Jan 1916; RNZAF 29 Nov 1938; RAF 16 Aug 1939, 36213; RNZAF 17 Aug 1944 to 8 Jun 1945; Pilot, Master Bomber.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (10 Sep 1943): [419 Sqn RAF (Halifax)] Wing Commander Clark has a fine record as an operational captain of aircraft. The sorties in which he has taken part, include two successful attacks on Berlin and raids on Genoa, Turin, Hamburg and the Ruhr objectives. He has displayed consistent keenness, courage and determination throughout all his missions as a flight commander, and has given great energy to raise the standard of airmanship and training generally among the crews of his flight. His unswerving gallantry and exceptional flying skill have been most praiseworthy.
Citation Mention in Despatches (8 Jun 1944): For distinguished service and devotion to duty.
Citation Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross (17 Oct 1944): [635(PFF)Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] One night in August, 1944, this officer was pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Stettin. On the bombing run the aircraft was hit and severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. One engine was rendered unserviceable and the aircraft was difficult to control. Nevertheless by cool thinking and excellent co-operation this officer and his navigator made a successful attack on the target and brought the aircraft safely home to base. Wing Commander Clark has completed very many sorties and has at all times displayed exceptional skill and courage.
Wounded 22 May 1944. CO 77 Sqn RAF (Halifax) 1944-1945.
---------------------

DT619 was usually captained by Clark. During Feb 43 he captained it on 14, 16/17, 18, 19 and 24th. McIntosh's crew flew it only the once that month, on the 27/28th. The caption is in error in stating that the crew's three ops were on DT619.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Oh wow, that is very cool, thanks Errol.

[pjw4118]

The Captains Fancy art is to be applied to the Lanc at Motat. Details on the NZBCA thread , Preserving NZ Aviation History

[fwx]

Two days ago I was shown a couple of photos of a Spitfire that flew with 485 Sqdn, with "AUCKLAND" on the cowling just in front of the cockpit, and in smaller letters below that "WAIUKU". Unfortunately I wasn't able to scan them, but they came from Herbert Wilfred "Wilf" Hooper DFC, who served with 485 Sqn RNZAF (Spitfire) from March 1941, as an Armourer, before retraining in Canada as a Pilot and returning to the UK to fly Lancasters with 75 (NZ) Sqdn.
I guess this was one of the 'subscribed' Spitfires, marked for a town or province that had helped fund it.

[Dave Homewood]

I think there were several marked with AUCKLAND as their province name, weren't there?

I know that WAIKATO was the personal aircraft of Cambridge airman Bill 'Hawkeye' Wells.

[Dave Homewood]

Simon Somerville was sent the following photos by Pauline, daughter of Arthur George ‘Mike’ Smith, who was the Mid Upper Gunner with Bruce Crawford’s crew on No. 75 (NZ) Squadron. This poor old Lancaster has a great identity of GETSUM INN and lots of bomb markings so the aircraft will have been flown by a lot of crews on the squadron. It is Lancaster Mk.III ND801 JN-X of C Flight, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron.

Read all about the photos here on Simon's blog page. 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/arthur-george-smith-mid-upper-gunner-crawford-crew-1944-1945/

He's given me permission to share the photos here, thanks Simon.

[Dave Homewood]

Simon Somerville has been supplied more photos and info on the aircraft called GETSUM INN and it's crew. See here
75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/colin-wooton-navigator-waugh-crew-and-nd801astra/

Here are some of the new photos:

[fwx]

That's a tough one to follow (wow!), but while on 75 (NZ Sqdn Lanc's, this photo is featured in Ron Mayhill's book, Bombs On Target, probably PA967, AA-D, captioned in the book as "D-Dog":



The nose art and code letter are unusually on the stbd side, and the character is rather indistinct. Elsewhere in the book Ron refers to the a/c as both "D-Dog" and "D-Dogsbody".

Intriguingly one of the Lancasters in C Flight was apparently named "Dogsbody Again".

Other C Flight Lancs listed on the back of an autographed 75 (NZ) Sqdn Christmas dinner menu included "Paper Doll" and "Bad Penny IV".

[Dave Homewood]

I'm not certain if this one has come up before but it looks familiar, artwork of a kiwi (I think?) with a bomb in a photo from the NZ National Library, which states it is from "Part of: Clark, David Walter Sealy, 1916- : Papers / Diary":

[errolmartyn]

Jul 15, 2016 2:28:03 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I'm not certain if this one has come up before but it looks familiar, artwork of a kiwi (I think?) with a bomb in a photo from the NZ National Library, which states it is from "Part of: Clark, David Walter Sealy, 1916- : Papers / Diary":

From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds – Honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923 – 1999:

CLARK, Wing Commander David Walter Sealy, DFC*, mid, (pff).
NZ2314; Born Surbiton, Surrey, England, 18 Jan 1916; RNZAF 29 Nov 1938; RAF 16 Aug 1939, 36213; RNZAF 17 Aug 1944 to 8 Jun 1945; Pilot, Master Bomber.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (10 Sep 1943): [419 Sqn RAF (Halifax)] Wing Commander Clark has a fine record as an operational captain of aircraft. The sorties in which he has taken part, include two successful attacks on Berlin and raids on Genoa, Turin, Hamburg and the Ruhr objectives. He has displayed consistent keenness, courage and determination throughout all his missions as a flight commander, and has given great energy to raise the standard of airmanship and training generally among the crews of his flight. His unswerving gallantry and exceptional flying skill have been most praiseworthy.
Citation Mention in Despatches (8 Jun 1944): For distinguished service and devotion to duty.
Citation Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross (17 Oct 1944): [635(PFF)Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] One night in August, 1944, this officer was pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Stettin. On the bombing run the aircraft was hit and severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. One engine was rendered unserviceable and the aircraft was difficult to control. Nevertheless by cool thinking and excellent co-operation this officer and his navigator made a successful attack on the target and brought the aircraft safely home to base. Wing Commander Clark has completed very many sorties and has at all times displayed exceptional skill and courage.
Wounded 22 May 1944. CO 77 Sqn RAF (Halifax) 1944-1945

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Excellent, thanks Errol, I had not got that far to look him up last night. So this is a No. 635 Squadron Lanc. Nice!

I think I have seen this nose art before but not in this photo. I'll have to wait till Peter Wheeler gets back from his jaunt to PNG to see if he knows more.

[Dave Homewood]

This article details a much lesser known nickname on a Spitfire - it comes from the AUCKLAND STAR, 14 March 1945


FIGHTER ESCORT

BEARS HERO'S NAME

TRIBUTE TO AUCKLANDER

R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service AKYAB ISLAND, March 12.

A Spitfire fighter, named "Kiwi's Revenge," now flies with the air-sea rescue squadron in which a New Zealand airgunner, Flying-Officer J. S. Horan, of Auckland, recently won fame by remaining at his guns even though he was fatally wounded. Flying-Officer Horan, who was nicknamed "Kiwi," was the airgunner in a rescue aircraft which was attacked by Japanese Oscars.

A Spitfire now protects the squadron so that such sacrifices may not be necessary again.

"As soon as they gave us the Spitfire we named it after 'Kiwi,' for we feel that is some slight memorial to him," members of the squadron stated.

The simple incident revealed the respect they have for a brave New Zealander. When comment was made that in his photograph he looked sad, they chorused, "He always looked like that," and each man produced a photograph of "Kiwi" Horan.


According to Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow Volume Two", Kiwi Horan was Warrant Officer John Spencer Horan, NZ40608, killed on the 9th of January 1945 in Supermarine Sea Otter I (JM882). He served with No. 292 Squadron RAF and was based at Akyab in Burma. He was just 24 years old. Errol's book mentions that recommendation for the Victoria Cross was considered for his actions. I wonder if details of the Spitfire exist, its mark and serial number, etc.

[Dave Homewood]

Check this out from the Imperial War Museum:

"Fleet Air Arm pilot and his air gunner on the wing of their Fairey Fulmar aircraft. On the engine cowling is the pilot's emblem, a "Maori", with the New Zealand greeting "Kia Ora". Left is the New Zealand pilot Sub Lieut H Morrison, and with him is Leading Airman Ford, DSM."
© IWM (A 7570)



www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205141627

[errolmartyn]

Feb 5, 2018 0:47:21 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Check this out from the Imperial War Museum:

"Fleet Air Arm pilot and his air gunner on the wing of their Fairey Fulmar aircraft. On the engine cowling is the pilot's emblem, a "Maori", with the New Zealand greeting "Kia Ora". Left is the New Zealand pilot Sub Lieut H Morrison, and with him is Leading Airman Ford, DSM."
© IWM (A 7570)



www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205141627

From Vol Two of my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 :

Fri 4 May 1945

FIGHTER COMMAND
Escort to 48 Mosquitoes on anti-shipping strike over the Kattegat
19 Squadron, RAF (Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - 13 Group)
Mustang IVA KH674 - took off at 1315 with five others, together with Mustangs of 234 Sqn, to escort the Mosquito force to Denmark’s Fyn Island and the Kattegat. After attacking an E-boat off the east coast of Denmark collided with another of the Squadron’s Mustangs (KH818). The two aircraft crashed into the sea, their pilots being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Pilot: NZ422308 Plt Off Basil Matthew Cameron NATTA, RNZAF - Age 22.

FLEET AIR ARM - NORWAY

Operation JUDGEMENT - strike against U-boat base at Kilbotn, Lofoten Islands, Norway
882 Squadron, FAA (HMS Searcher - Fighter Carrier)
Wildcat VI JV809 - took off as part of the escort to Avenger bombers in the 44-strong strike force, also tasked with anti-flak duties in the target area. Hit by flak at low-level over the Kilbotn fjord, disintegrated and crashed in the sea at 1745. Shortly afterwards a German motor boat picked up the body of the pilot, a flight leader and deputy Squadron commander. He is buried at Narvik, 45km SE of Kilbotn.
Pilot: Lt (A) Hugh MORRISON, mid(2), RNZNVR - Age 27. At least 30th op.
A footnote on page 516 of the Official History, Royal New Zealand Navy, incorrectly dates Morrison’s death as being on the 5th, while the CWGC register omits his mentions in despatches. His first mid was for operations over a Malta convoy in 1942, while the second was awarded posthumously for his actions in leading the anti-flak fighters on the above operation.

Morrison and Natta were the last New Zealand airmen to lose their lives on operations against Germany, VE Day taking place four days later.


And Vol Three:

MORRISON, Lieutenant (A) Hugh, mid(2).
(no No.) (prev FX81898); b Masterton 18 Mar 18; Wanganui Collegiate; to UK/Europe to study architecture; School of Art, London & Herr Kesting's Der Weg Schule, Dresden, Germany; rtd to NZ; farm cadet - J E Broad, Fernyhurst. Enlisted NZ for RN/FAA as Aircrew u/t 9 Aug 40, emb for UK & att HMS St Vincent/Gosport 11 Aug 40, arr 30 Sep 40, att 24EFTS RAF as Pilot u/t 10 Dec 40, 1st solo 27 Dec 40, att 1SFTS RAF 16 Feb 41, Pilots Badge [wef 2.5.41] & Comm 26 Jul 41, 759 Sqn (Hurricane) 4 Aug 41, 761 Sqn (Fulmar) c.29 Sep 41, 792 Sqn (Roc/Skua) 3 Nov 41, 809 Sqn (Fulmar - 8 ops) c.3 Jan 42 [Sqn emb on fleet carrier HMS Victorious until 9 Mar, then 22-27 Mar, 12-17 Apr, 16 May-15 Jun, 29 Jun-9 Jul & 22 Jul-20 Aug], 879 Sqn (Fulmar, Seafire; 10 ops) 30 Sep 42 [Sqn formed from 'B' flt of 809 Sqn on 1.10.42 & emb on escort carrier HMS Attacker 29 Jul-5 Oct, att Naval Instrument Flying School c.5-8 Jun 43], 736 Sqn (Seafire) 19 Oct 43, baled out/slightly inj when a/c coll mid-air with another 736 Sqn Seafire 24 Oct 43, slightly inj in f/ldg 11 [12?] Dec 43 [hosp for 4 days], 761 Sqn (Spitfire/Seafire) as instr 13 Dec 43 [att 165 Sqn RAF (Spitfire – 3 ops) c.28 Feb-9 Mar 44], HMNZS Cook/Wellington for leave in NZ c.Apr-Jun 44, HMS Daedalus/Lee-on-Solent rtg to UK 16 Sep 44, 748 Sqn (Wildcat) for conv 8 Nov 44, 882 Sqn (Wildcat - 11 ops) 22 Nov 44 [Sqn emb on fighter carrier HMS Searcher 9 Feb-28 Mar 45, 5-12 Apr, 17 Apr-death], ditched after e/f on patrol (uninj) 9 Mar 45, kao 4 May 45. Narvik New Cemetery - XI.M.1, Norway. Son of Rupert Donald Mathew & Amy Violet Morrison (née Thompson); stepson of Ernest Samuel Tomlinson, Masterton. [OH Navy].

Errol