Just an aside about the ‘Semper in Excreta” nose art of LW625, which I believe was withe 192 Sqn (radar countermeasures).

The “Semper in Excreta” was originally designed by Flt Lt Douglas Bisgood, OC of 1403 Met Flight, not long after it formed at Bircham Newton in 1941. At the time 1403 was equipped with Blenheim MkIVs, and the design (an umbrella over skull and crossed bones) was meant to reflect the crews would fly when everyone else was grounded by the weather – in other words they were “Always in the ****) (source: “Even the birds were walking” by Peter Rackliff and John Kington.)

Bisgood survived the war but was killed on 18 April 1947 when Halifax ST807 of 202 Sqn, failed to return from a routine met reconnaissance sortie out of Aldergrove.

Given the role of 192 Sqn one can understand why the artwork was ‘lifted’ for LW625 – it was probably often Semper in Excreta itself.

Brian

Adopted 23 August 1915, declared obsolete September 1942 although some continued to be awarded on graduation to LACs successfully completing courses in navigation in the USA until well into 1943.

Source: Jefford’s “Observers and Navigators” page 18 (for adoption) and pages 162-163.

Brian

You could also try page 427 of his obituary at https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsbm.1994.0023 . I’m just Googling his name plus D-day.

Although I’ve been a member for nearly 15 years but am not exactly a prolific contributor, I do follow threads that are of interest to me.  Out of curiosity, following MFs post I Googled a thread I’d started in 2006 about the 1977 U2 accident at Akrotiri, using search words Akrotiri, U2, Accident, Key. Much to my surprise the whole thread, which ran for nearly 10 years, came up verbatim (if one ignores the adverts).  I was quite pleased, especially as one of the last posts was made by one of the accident’s investigators who provided a comprehensive account of events.   

Perhaps I was just lucky in that I was able to use specific search terms which, I appreciate, is not always possible.  (https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/56680-akrotiri-u2-accident… )

Brian

Further to my previous post, and with rafachelt’s permission, I’ve attached some images of the recently found fragment of wreckage, in the hope our experts could confirm it comes from a MkIII Halifax.

The identity stamp reads 57773 B9; below  is another, partially hidden, stamp which starts with 199 (gap) then what looks like the top of a ‘T’ followed by a gap then another ‘T’. 

Any advice  would be appreciated.

Brian