One of the thirteen - “Avenging Angel"

The aircraft was built in the first week of August 1944, delivered to No. 432 [Leaside] Squadron on 15 August 44. The Halifax completed 28 operations until damaged landing on 18 November 44, pilot F/O A. Clarke. Nineteen of those operations had been flown by the crew of F/O W. Saye J27647, who also originated the name and Nose Art. 

For each operation a red heart was painted beside the nude lady, for a total of 26. The next three hearts appeared on the fuselage, then came the 30th piloted by Wing Commander J. Mac Donald to Duisburg, and safely home.

The wartime Nose Art on Halifax NP755, [Avenging Angel], a Halifax Mk. VII.

 

F/L Harold Lindsay recorded the Nose Art in black and white film on roll # 6. print #3, and the lady was a full nude. Fortunately Lindsay saved the art, but when it arrived at Ottawa, “political correctness” stepped in and suddenly a green bathing suit was painted on.

For the 30th operation the artist painted the operational wings plus a large red heart with a single wing. The next crew assigned to Angel was that of pilot F/O L. W.W. Loppe J28109. On 10 April 1945, the Loppe crew completed operation number twelve in Angel bombing Leipzig, Germany. The next operation Number “13” was to Kiel on Friday 13 April 1945, second dicky was W/O Brewer R149113. To avoid changing their luck they all refused to write the number 13 and all was recorded as operation “12A’. The luck held and Angel finished the war with 70 operations, the last to Wangerooge on 25 May 1945. 

The aircraft was ordered for disposal and arrived at Rawcliffe on 29 May 1945.

 

 

Replica in private collection – Ottawa.