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Post by markrogers on Mar 6, 2023 16:55:11 GMT 12
I just recently bought a Revell 1/48 A-26B Invader kitset. While checking out the details of its markings I noticed nose art of a kiwi with a pilot's headgear sitting on a bomb with the words "Kiwi Boid" underneath it. "Kiwi Boid" was an A-26B Invader assigned to the 554th Bomb Squadron 386th Bomb Group during 1945. The serial on the tail was 322418.
Was there a New Zealand pilot flying this A-26? Who was the pilot and where would he have come from?
I wasn't sure if this is the appropriate place to post my inquiry but figured that it would get some attention here.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2023 17:21:55 GMT 12
Very interesting.  |
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Post by markrogers on Mar 6, 2023 18:00:52 GMT 12
Just had a closer look at the nose art. The character doesn't look like a kiwi...just looks a bit different. However the words "Kiwi Boid" is interesting.
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 6, 2023 18:37:42 GMT 12
That's really odd..........
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Post by markrogers on Mar 6, 2023 19:44:34 GMT 12
Should have looked a bit closer, the character's not a kiwi. I thought it was, apologies. Odd looking character though. I would still like to know more about the name.
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Post by Brett on Mar 6, 2023 22:01:02 GMT 12
From "A-26 Invader Units of WW2" - Osprey Combat Aircraft #82.
A-26B-20-DT 43-22418 of the 554th BS/386th BG, A92 St Trond, Belgium, May 1945
Far from being flightless, Kiwi Boid completed a total of 30 missions by war's end. 'Boid' is the way a New Yorker from Brooklyn would pronounce the word 'bird', which may provide a clue as to the origins of the pilot of 43-22418 - or was he a New Zealander?
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 7, 2023 5:58:50 GMT 12
"....the boid is on the wing, No ! the wing is on the boid..."
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Post by denysjones on Mar 7, 2023 7:36:55 GMT 12
 quack quack  |
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 7, 2023 8:34:50 GMT 12
Some mis-communication between aircrew and artist? A chat-up line gone wrong?
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Post by davidd on Mar 7, 2023 11:26:29 GMT 12
There were a good number of New Zealanders (aircrew for most part) sent overseas during WW2, either direct to UK (and qualified), or to Canada for their advanced training, looked to be maybe 30 or 40 of them. No "Boids" of course. Should I have looked up "Birds" maybe?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2023 11:58:01 GMT 12
There were a good number of New Zealanders (aircrew for most part) sent overseas during WW2, either direct to UK (and qualified), or to Canada for their advanced training, looked to be maybe 30 or 40 of them. No "Boids" of course. Should I have looked up "Birds" maybe? Huh? 10,500 New Zealanders were sent to the UK and Canada. What are you trying to say? Do you mean the "30 or 40 of them" served with the USAAF? |
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 7, 2023 14:32:53 GMT 12
Now that would be novel.....a real quirk of fate....
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Post by McFly on Mar 7, 2023 16:22:15 GMT 12
A-26B 43-22418 RU-O Kiwi Boid of the 386th BG A-26B 43-22418 RU-O Kiwi Boid of the 386th BG, 554th BS
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 7, 2023 16:58:49 GMT 12
Geez.....loaded for bear....8 underwing 0.50cals and what appears to be armoured side canopy enclosure doors unless I am badly mistaken
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Post by angelsonefive on Mar 7, 2023 17:56:03 GMT 12
The bird on the bomb looks like Daffy Duck, a popular Warner Brothers cartoon character that first appeared on screen in April, 1937.
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Post by davidd on Mar 7, 2023 18:43:10 GMT 12
Dave H, the "... looked to be maybe 30 or 40 of them..." was referring to aircrew named Boyd, guess I could have made that a little bit clearer!
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Post by markrogers on Mar 7, 2023 18:47:38 GMT 12
Wow! Fascinating stuff!! And photos!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2023 21:12:56 GMT 12
Thanks DavidD. Gosh that is a lot of Boyds!
It is fascinating how many photos exist of this aircraft, why have we never come across it before? And why with so many photos out there has no-one recorded the origin of the nose art and name?
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Post by steveh on Dec 7, 2023 19:14:22 GMT 12
This thread is gold. I've had the Italeri kit for this for years & only just looking to build it for a Britmodeller GB early next year but so few reference photos till I tripped over this. Just brilliant, thanks Dave, denysjones & especially Mcfly. No excuse for not getting it right, though the decal sheet doesn't have the Kiwi Boid for the right side, Sheeesh, Italeri.  I'll have to try & blag one from someone else with the kit & of course its codes are RU-O not RU-D like Italeri would have us believe, but I think I can cover that, otherwise, apart from being a challenging kit to build supposedly, it should be a doddle.  |
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 8, 2023 14:13:03 GMT 12
I'm tempted to get one too!
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I'll have to try & blag one from someone else with the kit & of course its codes are RU-O not RU-D like Italeri would have us believe, but I think I can cover that, otherwise, apart from being a challenging kit to build supposedly, it should be a doddle. 
