I agree, Twin Wasp. It keeps the more characteristic radial engine. Polish markings one side, RAAF the other… I can see it now!

(Which fool suggested using Merlins…?)

Is a MkII with Merlin engines completely out of the question?

Somehow I don’t think the Palace would “Be amused”.
Pretty woman, nice drawing…but not quite right for nose art…the pinups weren’t usually that well done…and there was something charming and authentic about their style (dare I say crudeness…in style, not subject).

And speaking of nose art and names….

I’ve read that the 8th AF wanted to name a B-17 after Princess Elizabeth…but there was some concern about the symbolism if the aircraft was lost so they changed it to “The Princess Rose”..or perhaps “The Princess York”.

But they did allow a P-51 to be named “Princess Elizabeth”…and the B-17 nose art book says at least two B-17s were named ‘Princess Elizabeth”…anyone know the whole story?

The B17 named ‘after’ and by the then Princess Elizabeth was a G model with the 306th BG at Thurleigh. It was named ‘Rose of York’. There are quite a few pictures of the naming ceremony.

http://www.aviationartprints.com/john_young.htm John Young had a firm influence on me since my favourite childhood book which was packed with his illustrations. His Friday the 13th is on my study wall. Yes, that Postlethwaite chap is also very good.

Yes, but even those who lived after being shot-down by one…..never saw one! 😉

Fair point Creaking Door, fair point :very_drunk:

I can only agree with Jeepman. The loss of the upper galleries is a sad one: will the artifacts that were in them be displayed in a new place? I’ve always been fascinated by the displays there (when they’ve been accessible), ever since the Museum opened and I was only about 6 or 7 when I first visited. Whatever happened to the dioramas? They fell out of favour and got removed. I saw the WWI trench one, sans aircraft, in a corner of The Graeme White Hanger a few years back, maybe they are in a hut somewhere.

If ‘modern museum visitors’ want hanging aircraft and no uniforms, flying suits, medals etc, etc then they have to be catered for. But some concession to those of us who do would be nice, I hope that comes to pass too. (Along with a decent display of the nose art in the BC hall…)

P.S. I REALLY like Hendon, for all its niggles it does do so much so well.

Thread creep over, back to the more important matters.

Thank you for the update Eric.

First place to ask is here:

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/archive-collection/aircrew-logbooks.aspx