One of the thirteen ??? - “Gremlin on a Double Eagle”
Contrary to reports in some American books and magazines, nose art was not invented or first used by Americans in World War Two.
As Canada entered the war, a great percentage of ideas, names and Canadian nose art paintings came from American publications. Gremlin on a Double-Eagle is one such example.
This American designed insignia appeared in the 1944 issue of Life magazine. The art was copied from this ad and appeared on the nose of two Halifax aircraft in No. 432 [Leaside] Squadron of the RCAF in England.
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| This Nose Art appeared on Halifax Mk. VII, serial NP774, code QO-Z. The aircraft completed at least 34 operations from August 1944 until the end of the war. | This replica, painted by Clarence Simonsen, was donated to the Nanton Lancaster Museum in 2002 |
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| A
second Halifax Mk. VII, serial NP812, received the same Nose Art in No.
432 [Leaside] Squadron.
Halifax NP812 was taken on strength by No. 432 Squadron on 29 September 1944. The aircraft flew eleven operations and was involved in a cat. “A” accident on 30 December 1944. On 20 March 1945 the aircraft was ordered for disposal and flown to No. 45 M.U. at Rawcliffe. The aircraft was photographed by F/L Lindsay in May 45 and struck off charge by Royal Air Force on 24 July 1947. |
In 1981 Ian Foster took this photo in the Mess Hall at Eastmoor, the same Gremlin on a Double Eagle. I wonder if this Canadian Heritage was saved ? |