Boston/DB-7 For Hendon

No, its an A-20G that will be coming – in its original scheme as ‘Big Nig’

Bruce

I wonder how long before some PC imbercile decides that “Big Nig” is not an acceptable name as it might offend…
I seem to remember something similar happening with the fibreglass “Sherman was right” P51 for the AAM at DX. With one stroke of a PC pen, history is changed…:rolleyes:

No, its an A-20G that will be coming – in its original scheme as ‘Big Nig’

Bruce

Anyway, back to Bostons. Can we have it in this scheme please?

RAFM has no spare Mk XIV airframes…..

In store, is a XVI, XIX, 21, 22

Bruce

not to mention that dozens of RAAF and RAF [Australians] pilots flew Mk XIV’s and most types with the RAF ..not on charge with RAAF..

My Mk XIV was flown by at least two Australians including ace Tony Gaze with 41 Sqn RAF

RAAF Spitfires

While only Mks V and VIII were only flown in Aust by the RAAF, other marks were flown by other RAAF squadrons in UK, ME and Europe.

452 Sqn Mk II and V in UK
457 Sqn Mk II and V in UK
451 Sqn Mk V and IX in ME and Med; XIV and XVI in UK and Europe
453 Sqn Mk V, VII, IX, XIV and XVI in UK and Europe.

So a Mk XIV would be fine thankyou.

Mk XIV Spit for the A-20G at Wangaratta….

I would guess that from the A28-8 preservation (now on display at Point Cook RAAF Museum) there are left-over bits (as per Beaufighter VI’s post) – this might be the exchange, but I do not know.

The left over bits went to Murray Griffith’s shop in Wangaratta. I think the trade is with them. They have enough to build 3 or 4 aircraft I believe.

Cheers,
Richard

Is that a good representation of the colours in which it is painted?

Moggy

Yes, different from RAF colours, the RAAF DG was a bottle green colour and the brown lighter.

The colour refs I have for this scheme are “Du Pont Dark Green 71-013” and “Du Pont Dark Earth (Sandy Earth) 71-009”.
Ref “The Douglas Boston in RAAF Service” by Gary Byk.

I don’t think the RAFM would get the A-20G “HellN Pelican II”, as this remains at Amberley on promise to PNG pending them building proper accommodation and that has been a long wait so far! I think this was rebuilt to airworthiness standard.

I would guess that from the A28-8 preservation (now on display at Point Cook RAAF Museum) there are left-over bits (as per Beaufighter VI’s post) – this might be the exchange, but I do not know.

It’s a coincidence hearing about a Boston on Remembrance Sunday. The chap who ran the Remembrance Parades in my village for 50 years was a Boston man. A modest and kindly chap, he was a Halton brat, flew (very slowly, he recalled) in a Vickers Virginia, learned to fly and then instruct, taught Richard Shuttleworth to fly the Fairey Battle, led 90 Squadron when they were (very unsuccessfully) operating the early Fortresses, and was, in Dec 42, involved in the low-level raid on the Phillips factory at Eindhoven.

He was delighted when the Battle went on display at Hendon, and he would have loved to see a Boston again. I look forward to seeing it, and raising a glass in his memory.

Interesting update in Flypast on this.

Hopefully it will be put in place in 2010, USAAF markings but still unique to the UK so I’ll take a trip to see her.

RAAF Amberleys Boston

The Boston is still there, I saw it on the 4th October this year whilst the airshow was on. Its kept in a historic airframes hangar and there is a Canberra and Mirage in there as well as a couple of other airframes.

Far as I know The Hell’N Pelican II is still at Amberly.Saw it in 2007 in the Hangar along with a Canberra,Mirage and Sabre.

Is that a good representation of the colours in which it is painted?

Moggy

the options are likely to be

Manufacturers finish = Du Pont equivalents of Dark Earth / Dark green uppers or
Australian repaint prior/during service = Earth Brown/Foliage Green uppers

both different from the DE/DG colours we know and love!

Davesoda – There is no chance of the Spitfire being a Vc or VIII. The choice is from the RAFM store so I would be thinking LFXVIe . If only someone would do a trade to get Otter XL710 in the RAFM!

Follwed by the genuine Boston III AL907/A28-8 of the RAAF Museum at Point Cook,also taken in 2000.

Is that a good representation of the colours in which it is painted?

Moggy

Here’s A-20G Havoc 42-86786 ‘The Hell’N Pelican II’ held in store at RAAF Amberley for the National Museum of Papua New Guinea,photo taken in 2000.Is is still here?

Follwed by the genuine Boston III AL907/A28-8 of the RAAF Museum at Point Cook,also taken in 2000.

Beaufighter, that is the Boston, someone else stated was Big Nig. Hopefully the spitfire is a Mk 5c or Mk 8. Something that is representative of what flew in Oz.

Try this one but there are others in the store.

If it is the ‘Big Nig’ is was recovered from a swamp. It’s worth considering that there isn’t a huge market for Boston / Havoc aircraft . Anyone rebuilding one to fly is by no means guaranteed a return on their investment. The recent sale of one from what should be a secure place for them(the U.S) to Australia demonstrates that demand for twin engined bombers isn’t vast.