434 Nose-Art

Mugs Mulligan, F/S Mulligan & P/O C. Phillips, Crew 22 (1 of 2)

Man in the Mural

Mugs Mulligan II, the man in the mural. The artist is F/S Muggs Mulligan, he also services the a/c while in flight, and decorates while on the ground. The lad looking out of the cockpit is the wireless-operator P/O Cliff Phillips. Both fliers have finished 24 trips. On a recent bombing flight to Montzen , Belgium the Canadian rear gunner Sgt. Johnny Foster, of Stoughton, Sask. Shot down a JU-88.

Crew 22 - F/ S Muggs Mulligan & P/O Cliff Phillips.

Crew 81 - Sgt. Johnny Foster (not in photo)

9 May 1944 – Courtesy CFJIC - PL 29689

Muggs Mulligan, F/O Wright & F/S Mulligan (2 of 2)

Mugs Mulligan

Mugs Mulligan First and Second. Mugs the first is the artist F/S Mulligan Flight Engineer of London, England: Mugs the Second, is the Halifax in which Mulligan flies. There are still a number of British aircrew flying in aircraft of RCAF Bomber Group 6, while thousands of Canadian fliers are attached to RAF squadrons.

The Lad looking out of the window is F/O Gordy Wright, captain of the a/c from New Westminster , B.C. On a recent bombing flight to railway yards at Montzen, Belgium, Wright skillful maneuvering enabled his rear gunner Sgt. Johnny Foster (not in photo) to destroy an attacking JU-88.

Crew 22 F/S Mulligan (uncropped photo available)

Crew 81 F/O Gordy Wright

9 May 1944 – Courtesy CFJIC - PL 29688 / UK

Jehudi & members of crew 85

Jehudi

L to R

Sgt. Jerry Newlan, Jimmy Dunlop

A Night-Fighter learned about “Jehudi” from these gunners. Gunners: Sgt. Jerry Newlan (Left) tail gunner of Moncton, N.B., and Jimmy Dunlop of Weston, Ont. Midupper-gunner, destroyed a JU-88 between them as the climax of a flying battle in a recent mine laying flight. The Luftwaffe a/c had charged, guns firing to within 150 yards of their Halifax, when their combined fire had stopped it. The Nazi burst into flames, fell, was seen by another bomber crew to crash and explode.

Newlan had shot down another JU-88 on his last training flight, a leaflet drop on Paris. This Halifax has a name “Jehudi” in this case and the insignia to show it prowess. The seven little bombs indicate the number of bombing missions the aircraft has flown, the anchor symbolizes the mine laying mission, and the swastika the destruction of the JU-88.

On the 10/11 June 1944, crew # 85, piloted by P/O A. J. Doran would participate on a raid to the rail yards at Versailles, France. They "FTR", all were killed.

9 May 1944 – CFJIC - PL 29694

LL-177 ALLY-OOP

"ALLY OOP"

LL-177, WL-A

Halifax B/Met. Mk. V

This Halifax suffered flak damage to the port outer wing while on a mission to Berlin on 21 January 1944 . The aircraft was repaired. (N.B. At one point on loan from No. 431 Squadron before being transferred to No. 434 Squadron).

Ally-oop, Clarence Simonsen Collection

Happy Valley Harlett

"Happy Valley Harlett"

MZ-876, WL-H

Halifax B. Mk.III

The Comet, LAC.'s S. Snitzler & A. Smith (1 of 2)

C - Comet (1 of 2)

L to R

LAC Stan Snitzler, LAC Alan Smith

To flying control officers, this Halifax of the "Bluenose" squadron is "C - Charlie ". To its ground crew and the lads who fly it, the big fellow is "C - Comet" Stars painted on the fuselage show that it has done 10 sorties over enemy territory.

A pair of westerners grace the picture; LAC Stan Snitzler (left) of Regina , Sask , and LAC Alan Smith, of Red Deer, Alta .

The Laffin crew flew this aircraft on 2 sorties; April 18/19,1944, Mining Kiel Bay, on the return route they were attacked and successfully fought off 3 Me-109's, no claims/no damage. April 20/21,1944, Lens , France. Bombed rail facilities.

April 44 – Courtesy CFJIC - PL 28612

C-Comet, LAC's H. Thompson, E. Rainthorpe & Cpl Bob O'Donoghue (2 of 2)

C-Comet (2 of 2)

L to R

LAC Harold Thompson, Cpl. Bob O’Donoghue, LAC Earl Rainthorpe

Three Ontario lads stage an important reunion on the good Halifax “C-Comet” of the RCAF Bomber Group’s Bluenose Squadron in Great Britain. Stars indicate that it has completed ten bombing missions. Pictured are: (Left to Right) LAC Harold Thompson, Oshawa, Cpl. Bob O’Donoghue, Rogers St. Peterborough: LAC Earl Rainthorpe, 45 Fairview Blvd, Toronto.

4 April 1944

Courtesy CFJIC, PL - 28613

The Comet, WL-C

"The Comet" WL-C

Pubwash

Pubwash

Parrot crew 140 & Pubwash

The Parrot crew #140 are one of numerous crews who flew in "Pubwash"

Ground Crew with B-Beer

Ground crew with B - Beer

L to R

LAC Ray Ritchie, LAC J.R. McLennan, Cpl. Bob Stenhouse

"Pubwash" keeps rolling along. With 23 trips logged, this Halifax of the RCAF Bomber Group's "Bluenose" squadron is officially known as "B-Beer". Each mug represents a bombing mission.

Working on the aircraft are; (left to right) LAC Ray Ritchie, from Calgary, Alta. LAC J.R. McLennan of Bracken, Sask.; and Cpl. Bob Stenhouse, Portreeve, Sask.

April 44 – Courtesy CFJIC - PL 28611

N Nuts "Bombing Up"

N-Nuts?

PISTOL PACKIN BOMA unknown crew

"PISTOL PACKIN BOMA" Crew 102

This photo was scanned out "Fly Past" Bomber Command special of magazine (May 2003) with caption

"Pistol Packin Bombs" and crew of 434 Squadron - note the 'Canada' shoulder flashes. (Peter Green collection)"

Webmaster has a letter from P/O C. Soderstrom indicating the Laffin crew was giving up this Halifax and receiving a new one "L-Love".

see crew 102 in "Aircrew"

Lancaster D-Dog

Lancaster D-Dog

D-Dog photo taken in December 1944

Courtesy F/O Frank Welsh

'Old Straw Hat' & LAC A. Basaraba (1 of 2)

"Old Straw Hat'

Usually aircraft “O” is known as “O-Orange” but not so on the Bluenose squadron where the “Erks” have their own ideas on the subject. This one is “Old Straw Hat” and LAC A. Basaraba (R123086) of Wood Mountain, Sask. is chalking up trip number three.

16 Nov. 1943 - Courtesy CFJIC - PL 26142 / UK 6187

'Old Straw Hat' (2 of 2)

"Old Straw Hat"

F/Sgt. J.S.M. Smith posing with veteran aircraft, crew 74

This A/C has flown 34 missions over enemy territory, peering out of aircraft cockpit is F/Sgt. J.S.M. Smith (DFC), he is a navigator for crew 74.

Courtesy Kim (son) & Debi Smith via Linda Ibrom

Bluenose Outlaw

Bluenose Outlaw

Lollipop, KB-880

"Lollipop"

Lancaster B. Mk. X

KB-880 "WL-L"

O-Oboe

Unknown?

KB-890, Xotic Angel

KB-890, WL-X

Lancaster X. also see "Xotic Angel"

Rotary Club of Halifax - Christening

"The Rotary Club of Halifax "

Crew members 137 & 153 at Christening, Section Officer Gertrude Hunt of Mabou, Nova Scotia., is about to christen this Halifax after the Rotary Club of Halifax, which sends the unit many small gifts. From the cock-pit escape hatch, the pilot, (137) F/O Ivan Andres of Regina, Sask. Holds the string from which the pop bottle in Miss Hunt’s hand will swing. Watching (Left to Right) are the Squadron C.O.. W/C A.P. Blackburn of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, F/O John Pauley, of Halifax N.S., the bomb-aimer in Andres crew; and F/L H.C. Hallet (153) of Toronto, Ont. The squadron Adjutant.

Halifax LL286, WL-V for Victor

WL-V for Victor

LL286

Halifax Mk V

This Halifax was allotted to the Keane crew on 1st March 1944, it flew 18 ops and one sea search for a total of 111 hours while with the squadron. Later she was transferred to 1659 HCU Topcliffe on the 11 May 1944 when 434 converted to Halifax Mk 3.

On the 27 May 1944 code named RV-R for Robert was lost on a cross country at night. Aircraft not found, but two bodies recovered from the sea. 8 crew on board, probably instructor pilot, all lost. Please note this is a four bladed propellor.

Courtesy P/O John E. Nickolas, Wop/AG for Keane Crew via Leslie Green

The Queen

The Queen

Courtesy CFJIC - PL 31136

V Victory

V- Victory

KB-840, WL-N 'NAN'

"N - Nan"

Lancaster B. Mk-X.

KB-840 "WL-N"

Struck in the bomb bay doors by flak while on a day light mission to Hannover on 25 March 1945. The aircraft was repaired.

KB-852, Rocket also Crazy Rabbit

Crazy Rabbit

KB-852, WL-R ‘Rocket’ also ‘Crazy Rabbit‘ Struck by flak while on a mission to Dresden on 14 February 1945. The aircraft was repaired. Struck near the astro turret by flak while on a day light mission to Mannheim on 1 March 1945. The aircraft was repaired. Struck near the mid upper turret by flak while on a day light mission to Hannover on 25 March 1945. The aircraft was repaired.

Courtesy CFJIC via R.K. PL - 12758

4 a/c, two from 434 Lil'Abner, Hello Sugar, & two a/c from 431 Squadron (1 of 3)

431 and 434 Lancasters in dispersal on tarmac, U.K.

434 Squadron

KB-883 "Hello Sugar" (right)

KB-825 "Lil' Abner" (center to left)

431 Squadron

SE-U (left)

SE-K (bottom left)

Courtesy CFJIC, PL - 36905

Lil'Abner (2 of 3)

"Lil' Abner"

Lancaster B. Mk. X

KB-825 "WL-A"

Courtesy CFJIC, PL - 36905

Hello Sugar (3 of 3)

"Hello Sugar"

Lancaster B. Mk. X

KB-883 "WL-S"

Courtesy CFJIC, PL-36905

The Hairy Chop

"The Hairy Chop"

Lancaster B. Mk. X

KB-824 "WL-E"

Struck in the starboard elevator and wing between both starboard engines by cannon fire from an Me 210 night fighter while on a mission to Pforzheimon 23 February 1945. The aircraft was repaired. Struck in the nose by flak while on a day light mission to Leipzig on 10 April 1945. The aircraft was repaired.

Courtesy CFJIC, PL - 36903

pl-36556.jpg

Y-Yellow and LAC Alex Basaraba

Halifax, WL-Y "Yellow"

LAC Alex Basaraba of Wood Mountain, a member of the ground crew, looks with admiration at the highly colored insignia the lads have painted on “Y-Yellow” of the RCAF Bomber Group’s Bluenose Squadron. It depicts a fearsome looking dragon riding a bomb. LAC Basaraba has several cousins serving in the Air Force Overseas.

4 April 1944

Courtesy CFJIC, PL – 28610

Y-Yellow, Dragon, Clarence Simonsen Collection / NLS.jpg

Y-Yellow, Dragon, Clarence Simonsen Collection / NLS

Hell Razor, KB - 885, Clarence Simonsen Collection / NLS.jpg

Hell Razor, KB - 885, Clarence Simonsen Collection / NLS

See A/C serial numbers with link to Nanton Lancaster Society for further history on this aircraft.

Irremovable Finger (original) Clarence Simonsen Collection, NLS

Irremovable Finger, Clarence Simonsen Collection, NLS

Clarabelle WL-C (1 of 2)

Clarabelle WL-C (1 of 2)

Clarabelle, WL-C (2 of 2)

Clarabelle, WL-C (2 of 2)

Wimpy, WL-W

Wimpy, WL-W

Lancaster

Photo courtesy Roger Hooper (son of F/O H.L. Hooper, crew 168)

Tamara, WL-T?

Tamara, WL-T?

Courtesy Clarence Simonsen Collection, NLS.

Popeye with wrench, WL-P?

Popeye with Wrench, WL-P?

Courtesy Clarence Simonsen Collection, NLS.

The Gallopin Gael, crew 158

"The Gallopin Gael"

Lancaster B. Mk X. WL-G, serial # KB-873

F/O D.G. White (B/A) & F/O G.W. Campbell (Nav.)

Here is a photo that appears to be when the aircraft arrived in Dartmouth on June 14, 1945. I assume the W/C in the foreground is the Sqn CO. Not sure who the others are. My dad is in the cockpit with Doug White. This is the aircraft my dad flew in during his tour overseas.

Photo courtesy Bert Campbell (son of F/O G.W. Campbell)

TODT KOMPT BEI NACHT

"TODT KOMPT BEI NACHT" translated "Death Comes At Night"

“I do believe we thought up the nose art idea of painting something while we gathered in a pub at Leeming, which was adjacent to 408 Squadron”. “It never came to fruition until we received a brand new Halifax Mk. V, (Halifax “G”, EB276) in No. 434 (Bluenose) Squadron."

P/O Lloyd Christmas; Nose -Artist

Read the story "TODT KOMPT BEI NACHT"