A Few War Time Photos

Hello,

I posted this on WIX, and a number of people suggested I post here. So here it goes…

I have scanned a few wartime photos and posted them on Webshots. There are not that many, but since we can’t travel back in time…
http://community.webshots.com/album/542545430oFKHnK

In this alubum you will find a picture of a Fairey Battle and a Barracuda.

I would like to know more about the Battle. I now know all the Battles were Mk Is. I am guessing any variations were field mods, or returned to the factory for modification. The Battle at the CAvM has a turret in the rear seat. I would appreciate it if any has any guesses about the Battle in this picture. My guess WAS that this Battle was painted over all yellow. The picture appeared to be over exposed. It is also a black and white print. Combine all of this and it was likely a yellow Battle. The Battle photo was with my great Aunt’s things in a box someplace when she died. I am guessing that she or some one she knew took the photo. The “snow fence” would indicate this was a barrier to keep the public from walking up to the plane (I am assuming again). All of this suggests to be it was on a war bond drive. My Aunt was in her late teens during the war, and was living in Tillsonburg, Ontario. This is in southern Ontario, and during the war Tillsonburg had an emergency landing strip which is now the site of their airport (and the home of the CHAA). Tillsonburg is also located halfway between Aylmer and Dunnville, two significant bases of the BCATP in Canada during the war. So I guessing this airframe was on a war bond tour, although it is just that… a theory.

HOWEVER… This gentleman on WIX had another thought…

Hi Mike,
The Battle’s colour. I’m almost certain it’s silver rather than yellow, for the following reasons:

The ‘sheen’ behind the gunner’s cockpit looks like a silver one rather than yellow.

The red ‘dot’ is dark, the blue in the roundel light – on that basis the film (pan or ortho can’t remember off the cuff) should be a mid- or dark- tone, NOT lighter than the red AND blue of the roundel.

The ‘snow fence’ is exactly the same type that was often used at airshows in the UK, in the 1930s (and called a split paling fence) and the clothing in the background is as typical of UK gear as Canadian – it’s a pity no-one’s wearing plaid!

In short, in my view, it could be in the UK, and it could be in Canada. I’m reasonably sure that it’s silver, not yellow, which if true narrows it down a lot. However there’s nothing conclusive either way.

Hope that’s of some help, and yes, historic photo interpretation is part of my job. 😉

Can anyone on this board tell me where this photo may have been taken?

There is also a picture of a Fairey Baracuda in the . The writing on the side says “Bacchanalian Blonde”, and according to Websters this relates to “Bacchus, god of wine.” Some one on WIX suggested this more simply translates to “drunk one”. In addition the Egyptian hieroglyphs on the fuselage roughly translate to “living for all time”.

I would very much appreciate it if someone on this board could tell me more about this Barracuda. Does anyone have anyway to take the markings and find a serial number for the airframe?

Looking forward to any comments you may have.

Mike