Lancaster Nose Art – Question

We often learn new things on here – like others I had assumed that all nose art was applied directly to the skin !Good to see that the old adage ”dont assume – check” still applies !! : )

Chaps, very helpful indeed. Many thanks.
David

I pointed this thread out to Peter Wheeler, who runs the New Zealand bomber Command Association. he has replied:

“Really interesting.

The crew obviously had a KIWI, .

DV171 was issued to 12 Sq then moved with their C Flight to form 626 sq at Wickenby ( One Group)

I assume to went back for overhaul at Avros before being reissued to 463 Sq. This was an Aussie squadron and DV171 was lost 24/9/44.

So the best guess the art was done while at 626 which had a number of kiwis including our John Tarbuck.

You can certainly let them know that paintings on fabric were done and doped to the aircraft, Nicks is a prime example.

Cheers

Peter”

I believe that the ‘Thomas Frederick Duck’ nose art that Nick Carter designed for his crew’s No. 75 (NZ) Squadron Vickers Wellington was later removed from that aircraft after another bomber crashed into it, and was later pasted onto the crew’s Lancaster when they went onto a Pathfinders squadron. He then removed it and kept it, and later donated it to the RNZAF Museum, where it’s still on display.

Definitely stuck on not painted on but I have no idea what material was used.

This appears to have been stuck on as well.

After it was removed.

I’ve seen references to artwork applied in this way to metal-skinned aircraft but it was years ago and I can’t remember where; possibly an article or book by Mike Bowyer.

There is quite a bit of green/black paint on the underside of the fabric and, interestingly, multiple rivet impressions. It looks like a flat -bladed instrument has been used to ‘lift’ the fabric from a painted metal surface – and done very carefully. More photos added – please see original post for link.

The story is that the emblem was removed when DV 171 was overhauled at Langar (Notts) by Avro. It passed from the ‘shed records’ keeper to the current owner in the late 50s – when they were in the Royal Observer Corps together.

The question that comes to mind is how would they have got it off.

Just what I was wondering, the result of peeling it off would have seriously damaged the finish and if a solvent was used that would have also caused damage. Perhaps the panel was from a fabric covered part of the airframe a rudder for example. Are their any fabric covered, frame only hatches on a Lanc?

Richard

The question that comes to mind is how would they have got it off.

Hi BigDave,

There is a ‘clearer’ b/w photo of DV171, and the characters on that appear different size to your photo.
However that b/w photo looks like someone may have gone over the letters to make it more legible.. so it’s probably not a true representation of the artwork.

Of the photos of other nose art I’ve looked at, all appear to be painted directly on the skin.

Does the piece look like it shows any detail of being glued to the skin, for example there appears to be a ridge running along just above the top of the shield? That is presumably not from folding the piece later.

If this wasn’t the actual nose art, perhaps this may have done to compliment that, possibly to hang in the squadron rooms somewhere?

But it certainly looks very close to the original.

What are you going to do with the piece?

Greg