One of the thirteen - “Willie, The Wolf from the West"

The original nose art “Wolf” design originated with Halifax Mk.III, serial MZ674, which arrived with No. 426 Squadron in mid-May and flew her first operation on 22 May 1944. This Halifax was assigned code letters OW-W and possibly the name “Willie the Wolf from the West”. It is believed S/L B.D. Patterson, who flew her on a number of operations including D-Day, 6 June 1944, named the aircraft. In mid-June 1944, Thunderbird squadron began to re-equip with Halifax Mk. VII aircraft.

MZ674 flew her tenth and last operation with No. 426 on 15 June 1944, transferred to No. 425 [Alouette] Squadron.

 

Halifax Mk. VII, serial LW207 was assigned to No. 420 Squadron on 13 June 1944, but did not carry out any operations. It was transferred to No. 426 Squadron on 16 June 1944, and given code letters OW-W. The Halifax received the same Wolf head nose art and the name “Willie the Wolf from the West”.

This picture was painted on the nose of Halifax Mk. VII, LW207, the same bomber that carried the Tail Art "Ol' Daid Eye".

When F/L Lindsay took a photo of Willie, the Halifax had recorded 67 operations, 14 white bombs had replaced the nose art name and the body, scarf, and arm of the Wolf had been painted over. Today only the Wolf Head remains in the Ottawa collection.
Left – LAC Jake Shantz, middle – S/L B.D.C. Patterson, DFC, right – LAC Don Forester, stand in front of Halifax LW207, 29 August 1944. The Halifax completed 56 operations with No. 426 Squadron flying as OW-W until 6 October 1944. Damaged in accident the code letters were changed to OW-K on 10 October 1944. S/L B.D. Patterson flew his bomber on ten operations, 23 June 44, 28 June 44, 4 Aug. 44, 6 August 44, 18 Aug. 44, 24 Aug. 44, 30 Aug. 44, 3 Sept. 44, 5 Sept. 44 and 10 Sept. 55. The Halifax was transferred to No. 408 Squadron on 14 May 45, but records show it flew no operations.

The bomber was sent for disposal at Handley-Page depot on 23 May and struck off charge 30 May 1945

Replica nose art painting on original skin from Halifax NA337, featuring “Willie The Wolf From The West” Halifax VII, LW207, No. 426 Squadron.

 

Karl Kjarsgaard presented this replica at the No. 426 Squadron reunion, Quality Hotel, St. Catherines, Ontario, 7-10 June 2004.