One of the thirteen - “Ol' Daid Eye"

The rarest Halifax “tail-art” in the world.

The above photo was taken by

F/L Harold Lindsay at No. 43 Group [Rawcliffe] after 23 May 1945.

[Note – on this original negative you can clearly see the scrotum and his penis was a small pink rivet, I’m sure a funny story known to the crew] Now in Ottawa the pink rivet has been removed and the scrotum painted black, see color photo].

 Halifax Mk. VII, LW207 was delivered new to No. 420 [Snowy Owl] squadron on 13 June 1944, but flew no operations. On 16 June 44, the aircraft was transferred to No. 426 [Thunderbird] squadron, where it completed 58 operations from 21 June 44 to 25 April 1945.

On 13 May 45, the Halifax was transferred to No. 408 [Goose] squadron but flew no operations. On 17 June it was ordered for disposal at the former Handley Page repair depot at Rawcliffe. The aircraft arrived on 23 May 45 and was photographed by Lindsay, then he selected it for removal and shipment to Canada, where it arrived in summer of 1946. The Nose Art piece from this same bomber, "Willie the Wolf of the West" was also selected for transport back to Ottawa.

For fifteen years the panel hung in the private museum at No. 408 Tactical Operations squadron at CFB Namao, north of Edmonton. In 1993, I visited the base and saw the panel for the first time.

 When the C.A.F. [Army] took over base Namao, the museum was given to the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, where the panel remained for two years. [The first public viewing]

In 2001 the panel was ordered back to Ottawa. Today it remains in storage in Ottawa.

 The original panel as it was in No. 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in 1993,

minus his pink rivet penis and black scrotum.

This original panel is the only known Halifax rear-gun art in the world.

“Very Rare” but unknown to most Canadians.