Stories
Stories
The Nose Art of Wellington AA-Y “Yorker”
In addition to a bomber’s official markings, airmen would often decorate the nose with a mascot or emblem to illustrate romantic, familial, or national identities. It provided a sense of camaraderie. Michael Wilcox explains the nose art of his father’s aircraft, AA-Y ‘Yorker of 75 (NZ) Squadron.
To Oslo in a Mossie
A daylight attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo, Norway in 1944, was a ‘wizard prang’, a memorable operation for John Buckley as he flew as tail end Charlie, carrying a cameraman, in place of his navigator, to record the low-level attack.
Charlie Eddy, MBE
Flying Officer Charlie Eddy was awarded the MBE for gallantry in dangerous circumstances. His unselfishness in a crashed, burning bomber is indicative of the loyalty that aircrew had for one another. Sadly, Eddy was killed on another mission, five weeks before his MBE was announced.
The ATA Girls – Kiwi Women Flying High
The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) supported the war effort flying new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between factories, repair facilities and active service squadrons. Doing so, they freed up RAF pilots needed for combat duty. Among the ATA pilots many female pilots from around the world, including at least five New Zealanders.
They Built a Bomber in a Day
In 1943 workers at a Welsh aircraft factory gave up their weekend off to build a bomber from scratch in just 24 hours. Why? To bolster spirits at home and demonstrate to the enemy the capacity of Britain to continue to arm Bomber Command.
Robin Gibb and the Bomber Command Memorial
Despite the efforts of many volunteers to have a Bomber Command Memorial built, the lack of political will to support the concept, meant the project struggled to gain traction. Help appeared from an unlikely source, Robin Gibb, the British singer, songwriter and record producer, famous as a member of the Bee Gees.