RCAF Nose Art – North Africa – Wellington Mk. X’s
No. 6 [RCAF] Group became operational on 1 January 1943, and by the 3rd of the month consisted of eight RCAF squadrons located at six stations in England. Croft [No. 427 Squadron], Dalton [No. 428 Sqn.], Dishforth [No. 425 and 426 Sqn.], Middleton St. George [No. 419 and 420 Sn.], Leeming [No. 408 Sqn.], and Topcliffe [No. 424 Sqn.].
From the middle of February until the first of April 1943, three RCAF bomber squadrons – [No. 420, 424 and 425], received new Vickers Wellington B. Mk X aircraft. On 16 May 1943 the three units were detached from No. 6 [RCAF] Group and sent on loan to North Africa. They became part of Mediterranean Air Command, No. 205 Group, No. 331 [RCAF] Wing, flying tropicalized Wellington Mk. X aircraft. From June to October 1943, the units flew bombing operations in support of the invasions of Sicily and Italy.
At least three Canadian ground crew Nose Artist’s painted impressive art on the Wellington Mk. X, RCAF aircraft, while they were in Tunisia.
3. Jimmie Smith
Note from Clarence Simonsen:
Jimmy Smith, from No. 420 [Snowy Owl] Squadron also painted in No. 425 Squadron, while they were based in North Africa. I have never found Jim Smith, but I feel he may of painted the little French-Canadian turtle "Slow but Sure".