I was both chuffed and surprised to read in my new Linc Lanc Association journal today the details of the Lanc’s new colour scheme, a full year before it’s due to be seen in public!
Squadron Leader Al Pinner says that it will be painted as EE139, ‘Phantom Of The Ruhr’, from 100 and 550 Sqns. A hasty look-up of this aircraft revealed a very striking nose art indeed, and what with the lovely quality the Bomber has had to it’s current paint scheme, I’m sure this new one will look lovely too.
I was interested also to read some details about the criteria used to choose her new markings- a centurian, and preferably from a squadron number that is still in use etc. (And, one assumes, there’d be no chance of ‘474 flying about the place with a big nakie lady on it’s nose!)
So, not S-Sugar as I wish for, but a very nice choice nonetheless. Look forward to seeing it!
By: Steve Bond - 18th September 2007 at 14:27
For those who may have missed it, at the Duxford show on 8 September, Vector Fine Art launched an amazing new pencil print by Nicolas Trudgian, depicting Phantom of the Ruhr. It has been signed by no less than four members of the same crew who flew together in Phantom.
I first met one of them last year, and in conversation discovered that the four of them were having their final reunion in London this summer, which took place in July. It is very rare now to find so many guys from the same crew still around, so this was too good an opportunity to miss. The reunion was great, and I think you will like the result.
I must emphasis that I have absolutely no commercial interest in this print. It is simply a fitting tribute to four brave men (although they would hotly deny that) who completed a full tour.
By: Peter - 27th April 2006 at 03:18
Wow what an exciting nose art to adorn PA474..!
By: Fluffy - 25th April 2006 at 18:57
Sorry wrong code letters the ones quoted are 550 Sqn. HW-R is the one we are replicating from 100 Sqn with 31 missions and yes if the yellow gas patch is on the photo’s it will be on the aircraft. Four or five of the crew are still with us and I believe one of them was involved with the nose art, so hopefully there are more pictures available for us to use, to go with the ones we already have. Picture is 550Sqn.
By: Shorty01 - 25th April 2006 at 17:24
Just to be pedantic, the one on the dinghy hatch was square.
By: adrian_gray - 25th April 2006 at 16:05
I thought it was a gas patch as well but then again is it?
It’s not the moon, is it? IIRC Lancs did have a gas patch but it either wasn’t there or was on the dinghy hatch.
ADrian
By: ALBERT ROSS - 25th April 2006 at 15:49
It would be interesting to know what sort of research goes into recreating a nose art like this; of course there’d be the gathering of all known images of the aircraft in question, but then, those photos might not always be all that clear; so presumably, some enhancement goes on? And some work to establish the correct colours? Chatting to anyone who remembers the actual aircraft? And then, the actual painting process would be interesting to know about too?
Fluffy/anyone?
Here’s the best photo I can find, albeit in b/w. Code letters will be ‘BQ-B’.
By: Bluebird Mike - 25th April 2006 at 14:37
It would be interesting to know what sort of research goes into recreating a nose art like this; of course there’d be the gathering of all known images of the aircraft in question, but then, those photos might not always be all that clear; so presumably, some enhancement goes on? And some work to establish the correct colours? Chatting to anyone who remembers the actual aircraft? And then, the actual painting process would be interesting to know about too?
Fluffy/anyone?
By: Eddie - 24th April 2006 at 23:24
Ummm. Not really an issue of different marks – more one of different production batches.
The pitot shown in this picture was the early type, and the type on PA474 is later. Like the removal of the fuselage side windows, the change to paddle blade props from needle blade props etc, the changes were generally made over all marks at the same time.
By: Moggy C - 24th April 2006 at 23:18
Looking at the image above, and then going over to Futurshox’s mystery picture thread I notice that the pitot head location differs.
Was this an indication of different marks?
Moggy
By: 682al - 24th April 2006 at 19:15
What’s the point of painting it on the side of the airframe where no crew member can see it?
Because a Lancaster the subject of a gas attack would most probably be parked safely on the ground, and unlikely to have it’s crew aboard?
It was a common feature on No. 1 Group machines.
By: jeepman - 24th April 2006 at 18:55
Gas patch or not
The circular bit is a gas patch, isn’t it? Will ‘474 carry this too I wonder?
I thought it was a gas patch as well but then again is it?
The point of the patch is presumably to alert the crew to the presence of poison gas. On vehicles they were painted on the bonnet of normal control trucks or on a tray in front of the windscreen for forward control trucks so that they could easily be seen by the driver.
What’s the point of painting it on the side of the airframe where no crew member can see it?
By: turretboy - 24th April 2006 at 18:30
Sounds exciting!
Now, how about a makeover for FM213?
By: mike currill - 24th April 2006 at 18:26
Hallelujah !!! Let’s have more of it. 😎
And so say all of us 😀
By: Manston Airport - 24th April 2006 at 18:23
WOW it look brilliant cant wait too see her in the Sky.
Off topic but will Just Jane ever fly again.
James
By: Bluebird Mike - 24th April 2006 at 17:57
The circular bit is a gas patch, isn’t it? Will ‘474 carry this too I wonder?
By: Andrew-O - 24th April 2006 at 17:22
Thanks for that !
By: 682al - 24th April 2006 at 17:15
beautiful…
By: Andrew-O - 24th April 2006 at 16:50
Does anyone have any photos of the original version that they can post ?
By: Hornchurch - 24th April 2006 at 15:44
……. and quite non-p.c., too!
Hallelujah !!! Let’s have more of it. 😎
By: 682al - 24th April 2006 at 15:40
Yes, an excellent choice, one of my favourite examples of Lancaster nose art!
A cloaked skeleton representing Death, dropping bombs from behind a cloudbank, with a crescent moon over it.
Macabre, and quite non-p.c., too!
Now, where will they get the 1943 style needle blade props, early pitot head, side windows, etc etc…?
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April 24, 2006 at 3:02 pm