Bambi - Canada

This is Halifax B Mk III MZ813, coded QB-B, of 424 Squadron but known to the crew as 'Bambi'.
Based on the famous Walt Disney fawn, the name and artwork were chosen by the 21 year-old pilot, Jack Dundas and painted by the squadron artist, a ground crewman named Ferguson.	On 21 February 1945 the Halifax crashed near Leiston while attempting to land on three engines and burnt out. This reproduction was painted by Clarence Simonsen.

In 1942, Jack Dundas stood in a line outside the RCAF recruiting office in Hamilton, ON to begin a new career in the air force.

After training in Ontario, he was posted to 424 (Tiger) Squadron at Skipton-on-Swale on 5-6 June 1944, where he flew his first mission as captain with his own crew as one of the 6,000 Alied aircraft that morning.

The Halifax was a new aircraft assignee to Jack and his crew. With this aircraft, Dundas and crew were faced with deciding on what nose art beginning with a "B" they could decorate with. One day, Jack spied a child's paint book with the Walt Disney 'Bambi' on the cover. He thought this would be a great contrast, dainty little Bambi on a giant Halifax. Mathew Ferguson painted this for a fee of two pounds ten.

Jack and his crew went on to become the first crew from 424 Squadron to finish a complete tour together, flying most of their missions in 'Bambi'.

Mr. Nose Art meets pilot Jack Dundas in Nanton, Alberta, [August, 2004] and signs new nose art of his Halifax.