The Death of Daisy

Research by Clarence Simonsen

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Excerpt

My history on Lancaster KB882 is being published in an attempt to educate the average Canadian public to what the RCAF has done at Trenton, Ontario. It will not make any difference, but just maybe a few relatives from the aircrew who flew KB882 in WWII can read her rare aviation past. Unlike our present day RCAF Senior Officers, I will never forget our RCAF veterans who flew and died in ‘our’ Lancaster Mk. X bombers over the bloody skies of Europe. It is becoming increasingly harder for a new generation of Canadians, and new immigrants to understand what took place during WWII, if our aviation museums do not paint our aircraft correctly, and fail to educate with the truth, Canadians may never understand.

Below is the text version (no images) to enable a search on search engines.

 The Death of “Daisy”

Daisy was born 15 September 1930, in the brain of cartoonist Murat “Chic” Young, when he created a new comic strip called “Blondie.” A cute and very vivacious American blonde lady falls in love with an average guy named Dagwood Bumstead, described as a scamp, a bit lazy, and not that smart. Dagwood is heir to his billionair father’s estate, but the father objected to his marriage to flapper [dancer] Blondie. The marriage took place on 12 February 1933, and the new couple were cut out of the will, without a penny from his father’s locomotive company fortune. They settled in the suburbs of Joplin, Missouri, and the strip contines today appearing in over 2,000 newspapers, 47 countries, and 35 different languages. For this computer age you can go online and enjoy the most widly syndicated comic strip ever. You will find the essential ingredient for the world-wide success of Blondie is the fact it deals with daily family problems, is kept very simple, and yes it is still funny.

Chic Young’s most enduring contribution to American and Canadian culture became the famous “Dagwood Sandwich” a mind-boggling concoction which evolved into today’s submarine sandwich. In 1974, Chic was interviewed and explained he never used politics, religion, liquor, cigarettes, divorce, sickness, racial objects, or any unpleasent subject in his strip. He was careful not to offend anyone, hurt no group, and while the original concept was an average American family life style, it soon appealed to families around the world. The humor has been described as warm, outlandish, slapstick, yet very sentimental. Mankind can still learn a lot from Blondie today. During World War Two, the American women took a much more forceful role in society and this was soon reflected in the comics. Blondie remained the strong-willed, dominant force, but changed into less of a vixen, while Dagwood took more of a male role, less fearful of the war problems. A generation of American teens and yes, Canadians, had grown up reading Blondie and this would inspire the use of the characters as aircraft nose art. The cartoon surname Bumstead, and the dog name “Daisy” came from the real long-time close friend of artist Chic Young, Arthur Bumstead, who owned a real dog named Daisy. The Daisy dog was created with the original strip in the 1930s, and Daisy was always aware and would react with a facial expression to the many family problems. Described as a purebred ‘mongrel’ Daisy was a lady and became a major part of the cartoon strip. Later, Daisy had five puppies, four girls and one male named Elmer, which greatly produced more family drama to the strip.

In the fall of 1944, at Malton, Ontario, Canada, the Victory Aircraft production facilites were delivering one Lancaster Mk. X bomber per day and KB839 was the 139th built in October 1944. The bomber was flown to Prestwick, Scotland, in November 1944, by an RAF ferry crew and next delivered to Glouchester Aircraft Company Maintenance Unit near Chetenham, England. This is where all of the British manufatured equipment, including the Fraser Nash gun turrets were installed. Lancaster KB839 arrived with No. 419 [Moose] Squadron of the RCAF in mid-January 1945, and flew her first operation on 28/29 January 1945, assigned the code letters VR-D [D for Dog]. The new Lancaster was assigned to a veteran aircrew of J24764 F/O Peter Tulk, who had completed eight operations [24 December 1944 to 6 January 1945] against German targets. [Flying – KB797 “K”, KB762 “J”, KB804 “E”. and KB787 “M”].

After flying their operation to bomb Stuttgart, Germany, 28/29 January 1945, the Fulk aircrew were advised KB839 would become ‘their’ bomber, and pilot Fulk decided to name her “D for Daisy” and have the cartoon pet painted as nose art. F/O Tulk was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in late February 1945, and flew “Daisy” on 20/21 February 1945, when the image below was taken and mailed back home to Canada.

This image is from Peter Fulk’s family sent to Col. [Retired] Herb Smale when he completed his history book 5 August 2005. Lancaster KB839 flew 26 operations during WWII, with Daisy and her five pups on the nose for the last twenty-three operations. F/L Tulk and crew flew Daisy home to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, arriving 10 June 1945, then departed on 30 days leave. On 15 July 45, Peter and crew returned from leave and began training for Tiger Force and the airwar against Japan. The last training flight in Tulk’s log book was 1 September 1945, the Pacific war was soon over and Tulk never saw Daisy again. On 8 September 1945, KB839, “Daisy” was flown to Pearce, Alberta, by RCAF ferry crew #5, S/L J.F. Thomas, and parked. No. 102 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, Pearce, Alberta, was a mix of veteran and new non-combat Lancaster aircraft and almost each one contained old and new nose art. The new nose art was painted for the war against Japan and most will never be seen or viewed by the Canadian public. I have thirty-two in my research collection, however no Canadian Museum will publish the history or display the images, as some of the RCAF ladies were nude, such as one called “Jill.”

The RCAF aircrew [7 Jacks] and “Jill” wearing only bright red high heel shoes, to match her long flaming red hair. Photo from LAC Laverne Thomas Shearer, ground crew No. 408 [Goose] Squadron, Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire.

Jill was painted by LAC Robert Douglas Sneddon from Calgary, Alberta, an Airframe Mechanic in No. 405 [Vancouver] Squadron, painted on Lancaster Mk. X [EQ-J] serial KB919, from No. 408 [Goose] Squadron. No. 408 was stationed at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, flying Halifax bombers until the end of the war on 8 May 1945. No. 405 became the only RCAF squadron transferred to RAF famous No. 8 [Pathfinder] Group, flying British built Avro Lancaster Mk. I and Mk. III bombers until 25 May 1945. No. 405 was now transferred back to No. 6 [RCAF] Group on 26 May 1945, and stationed with No. 408 [Goose] Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse. Neither squadron had flown Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X aircraft until late May 1945. No. 405 and No. 408 were now assigned thirty-eight new Canadian Lancaster Mk. X aircraft, to be air-tested, and flown back to Canada as part of “Tiger-Force” to bomb Japan.

Jill arrived at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, [No. 664 Wing] on 20 June 1945, then thanks to the sudden end of hostilities with Japan, Jill was flown to No. 102 R.E.M.S. at Pearce, Alberta, 23 September 1945, and forgotten. KB919 was converted postwar to a Bomber Reconnaissance aircraft and trained crews at No. 2 [Maritime] O.T.U. at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, scrapped 25 August 1955.

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

In May 1940, the first construction of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan aerodromes began across Canada. On 13 July 1940, the United Kingdom asks permission to transfer complete RAF schools to Canada, and the construction of 26 RAF operated [and financed] aerodromes began at once. All transferred RAF schools were reserved numbers 31 and above, including RAF schools which were later formed in Canada.
The RCAF picked the site for RAF No. 36 E.F.T.S. Aerodrome Pearce, Alberta, and it proved to be a very poor choice. During construction in August 1941, a southern Alberta dust storm was captured on film [looking South-West] fast approaching from the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

On 17 March 1942, twelve Canadian Pacific Railway coaches arrived on the siding at Pearce, Alberta, and RAF No. 36 EFTS was officially commissioned the 30th of March. The arriving RAF personnel included 32 officers, and 304 airmen staff, mostly new student pilots. They began their journey in West Kirby, England, and soon found their new home to be an isolated spot on the broad Canadian prairies, which became known as windy acres, a chummy, hard to fly station. After just four months, the RAF school was disbanded 3 August 1942, for the simple reason the southern Alberta winds were too difficult for the novice British students to deal with. The RAF rear party were gone by 14 August 1942 and the RCAF decided to move No. 3 Air Observer School from Regina, Saskatchewan, to Pearce, Alberta.

The movement from Regina began on 12 September 1942, when a CPR train with five RCAF Officers, and 55 airmen, [44 were trainees] arrived in Pearce at 23:00 hrs. Due to lack of proper accommodations at Pearce, classes were conducted at Regina and flying training at Pearce, which was done with great difficulty. The school had on strength 18 Avro Ansons, 2 Cessna Cranes and one Stinson to begin the New Year, and on 18 January 1943, the Daily Diary recorded a winter temperture of -50 degrees Fahrenheit [-45 C]. RCAF Organization Order No. 264 arrived on 4 March 1943, advising the school would be disbanded, effective 3 May 1943. On 21 April 1943, six officers and thirty-eight airmen boarded the train back to No. 3 Air Observer School at Regina, to permit the re-location of No. 2 Flying Instructors School from Vulcan, Alberta, to Pearce. The RCAF advance party from No. 2 F.I.S. Vulcan arrived at Pearce on 26 April 1943, to organize the training school movement from Vulcan, Alberta.
On 3 August 1943, No. 2 Flying Instructors School, Pearce, Alberta, officially opened, and these were six of the first ‘professors’ as they were called.

F.I.S. training lasted eight weeks and was really an advancement of what was being taught at the RCAF S.F.T.S. In the air the professors flew the Cornell for teaching elementary flying training instructors, the Harvard for advanced flying instructors and the Cessna Crane for twin-engine flying instructors. When a student first arrived at Pearce, the instructor would take him up in a familiarzation flight. This is where the new student was put through a number of nerve-racking, dives, stalls, steep banks, and other stunts to see if the new kid would freeze at the controls.

The above cartoon [signed O’Lee] appeared in the squadron newsletter titled Pearce Platter, showing a new student on his first test-flight. The newsletter also contained a little Cessna Crane cartoon character named “Dewey” who kept students informed as to what was taking place on the isolated RCAF station.

This December 1943, No. 2 F.I.S. Christmas Card, featured Dewey sound asleep in front of the control tower, grounded due to the windy, bitter cold, winter weather flying conditions.

Recreation became a high priority at Pearce, and the staff even had a “Trading Post” which was much like a civilian general store. The RCAF also created something which was entirely different from all other RCAF Stations, when they allowed the formation of a base town with small homes constructed, so a number of wives could join their husband on this remote base. The new “Boom Town” was built across the road from the base, and while it was never fancy, it solved a major morale problem. Pearce became known as the “Western University of the Air” and the student graduates became the best qualified flying instructors partly due to the windy training conditions. On 20 January 1945, No. 2 F.I.S. closed and the flying school was abandoned. The very next day, 21 January, No. 102 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite RCAF Station Pearce, Alberta, was formed on paper for storage of surplus WWII aircraft. By 23 September 1945, one-hundred and twenty-one veteran Canadian built Lancaster bombers were flown to Pearce, awaiting long-term storage in other bases in southern Alberta. Today [August 2019] only two of these combat flown veteran RCAF Lancaster Mk. X bombers remain in the world, KB839 and KB882. Amazingly, both of these rare original veteran Lancaster Mk. X bombers have been destroyed by our modern RCAF museums at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia, and CFB Trenton, Ontario, Canada.

RCAF Lancaster Mk. X, serial KB882, No. 428
[Ghost Squadron]

No. 428 Squadron was officially born with the first Operations Record Book entry on 7 Nov. 1942.

The very first No. 428 Squadron Canadian constructed Lancaster Mk. X [KB705] aircraft landed at Middleton St. George on 25 May 1944, and the complete squadron turned out to inspect this new RCAF bomber. The next day, ground instruction began in preparation for conversion from the Halifax Mk. II aircraft to the Lancaster Mk. X, and by the end of May, No. 428 had on charge 19 Halifax Mk. IIs and 3 new Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X aircraft. [KB705, KB709, and KB725]
In early June 1944, aircrew conversion training for the Lancaster began and by the 14th of the month seven aircrew had been fully trained to operate this new Canadian bomber. No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron first flew a complete RCAF Lancaster aircraft operation on 14/15 June 1944, where seven Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X aircraft took part. Order of take-off was – KB737, [R] KB704, [E] KB758, [Z] KB725, [L] KB742, [M] KB705, [F] and KB739 [W].

No. 428 Squadron seven Lancaster Mk. X aircraft joined 51 other RCAF bombers which attacked St-Pol, France, with three aircraft returning early. The majority of 6 Group operations were now flown in the daytime, attacking V-1 flying-bomb sites in France.

On 25 October 1944, KB737 [the original NA-R] went missing on a day time raid to Essen, Germany. The missing aircraft was later replaced by Lancaster Mk. X serial KB882 which took the same code letter “R” flying her first operation on 12 March 1945.
KB882 was built at Malton, Ontario, in December 1944, and arrived in England on 24 February 1945, assigned to No. 32 M.U. The aircraft was next assigned to No. 434 [Bluenose] Squadron but only on paper, and was never delivered. It was now reassigned to No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron and given code letter “R” completing 11 operations from 12 March 1945 to 25 April 1945. The RCAF Lancaster Mk. X contained no known nose art or name during her combat operations, using call sign “R for Robert.”

1. 12 March 1945 Dortmund, Germany, [191 attacked] F/O G. Cox #J41866
2. 15/16 March 1945 Hagen, Germany, [139 attacked, 3 shot down] F/L A.L. Ross #J16986
3. 24 March 1945 Mathias Stinnes-Gladbeck, Germany, [95 attack] F/O D. Brown #J7608
4. 31 March 1945 Hamburg, Germany, [189 attacked, 8 shot down] F/L A. L. Ross
5. 4 April 1945 Merseberg, Germany, [89 attacked] F/L Ross
6. 8/9 April 1945 Hamburg, Germany, [184 attacked, 1 shot down] F/L Ross
7. 10 April 1945 Leipzig, Germany, [188 attacked, 2 shot down] F/L Ross
8. 13/14 April 1945 Kiel, Germany, [204 attacked, 2 shot down] F/L Ross
9. 16/17 April 1945 Schwandorf, Germany, [116 attacked] W/O R. K. Quinn #R192575
10. 22 April 1945 Bremen, Germany, [200 attacked] F/L R. D. Hay #J7608
11. 25 April 1945 Wangerooge, Germany, [184 attacked, 4 lost mid-air crash] F/L A. L. Ross.

No. 428 Ghost Squadron became the last No. 6 RCAF Group bomber squadron to return to base landing at 20:10 to 20:36 hours, the final operations of WWII.

The crew of Flight Lieutenant A.L. Ross J41866 flew Lancaster KB882 on seven operations and his crew was made up completely of officers, with all but one on their second combat tour. Pilot F/L Ross was flying his 52nd operation in World War Two.
Pilot F/L A.L. Ross, DFC, DFM. – 2nd tour
Flight/Engineer – F/O. R. Loveday. – 1st tour
Navigator – F/O K.R. Fee, DFC. -2nd tour
Mid-Upper – F/O Dan Ferguson. – 2nd tour
Wireless/Oper. – F/L Aitken. -2nd tour
Rear-gunner – F/O Bill Watson. – 2nd tour
Bomb aim – F/O E.K. Bergy. – 2nd tour

On 4 April 1945, 105 RCAF Halifax and Lancaster bombers were despatched to bomb Merseburg, Germany, with 104 attacking the primary target. At 22:53 hrs. Lancaster KB882 sighted a German Me-410 night-fighter and the rear gunner fired 100 rounds, no official claim was made.

Copy of original report follows:

Lancaster KB882 flew four operations in March and seven more operations in the last month of war, April 1945.

The last offensive operation by Bomber Command took place on 25 April 1945, when 482 RAF bombers were launched against Wangerooge Island at the eastern end of the Frisian Island chain. These German coastal batteries had been bombed many times and this last raid was ordered to make sure the guns were destroyed forever. RCAF No. 6 Group despatched 192 aircraft from thirteen different squadrons, ninety-two Halifax bombers from No. 408, 415, 425, 426 and 432, supported by one-hundred Lancaster aircraft from No. 419, 424, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons.

RCAF Command had placed a number of rookie aircrews on this last operation, and these good intentions would cost the lives of twenty-eight Canadians and thirteen British aircrews.

No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron was flying in the last gaggle of bombers and witnessed what took place just a short distance ahead of them. Two Lancaster bombers [KB822 and KB831] from No. 431 Squadron, both with sprog crews flying their first operation, did not realize the bombers in front of them were violently churning up the air. In seconds one Lancaster lost control and rotated on its side into the other Lancaster, breaking a wing and tail plane in the collision. This was repeated by two RCAF Halifax bombers NP796 in No. 408 and NP820 in No. 426 Squadron. Nine parachutes were sighted, floating to their slow death in the ice cold sea, over two-hundred miles from any British coast.

This is the No. 6 [RCAF] Group official map showing the location of each bomber before and after the attack on Wangerooge, Germany. This was plotted from the navigator exact location taken from each RCAF bomber, the modern computer for the year 1945. The “Gaggle” of 192 RCAF aircraft flew in a bomber stream which was thirty miles long by ten miles in width. No. 428 dispatched fifteen Lancaster bombers on the operation, with KB747 failing to take-off.

On 25 April 1945, F/O David Walsh and crew were flying their 28th operation in NA-D Lancaster Mk. X serial KB843, named “DOLLY.” They were the second Lancaster to take off for the raid on the coastal batteries on Wangerooge Island, and became the very last No. 6 RCAF Group bomber aircraft to return to base, Middleton St. George, Yorkshire, England, at 20:36 hrs. The Canadian Bomber Group’s bombing and shooting war had just come to an end. Lancaster KB882, NA-R, had landed just minutes before and shared in this No. 6 RCAF Group history.

KB843 NA-D [DOLLY] the last bomber to land in England from No. 6 RCAF Group in WWII.

The above image of KB843, NA-D [Dolly] was taken at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, around 18:00 hrs. 8 June 1945, and F/O David Walsh is about to land on Canadian soil.

No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron flew their first RCAF Lancaster [Canadian built] Mk. X operation on 14/15 June 1944, and KB843 became the very last Canadian Lancaster Mk. X to land in England, after bombing Germany, [Wangerooge Island] on 25 April 1945. That is possibly the reason Ghost Squadron were selected over the more veteran No. 419 [Moose] Squadron, to be the first Lancaster Mk. X squadron to take off for Canada on the morning of 31 May 1945. No. 419 [Moose] Squadron will follow flying twenty of their Canadian constructed Lancaster bombers.

On 31 May 1945, [09:00 hrs] RCAF ground crew LAC Delbert Todd recorded Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris addressing the members of No. 428 [Ghost] and No. 419 [Moose] Squadron at Middleton-St.-George. On the far left is Air Vice Marshal C.M. “Black Mike” McEwen, Commodore McBurney, S.A.S.O. No. 6 RCAF Group and Air Commodore Bryans, C.O No. 64 RCAF Base.

The exodus to Canada begins with fifteen Lancaster bombers in No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron and in the next six weeks 165 Canadian built Lancaster aircraft will return to Canada, with the loss of one KB764. [No. 428 Sqn.] The ferry route follows:
31 May 1945, take-off from Middleton-St.-George to St. Mawgans, in Cornwall 2 hrs, 5 mins. [Note – due to inclement weather most of 428 and 419 aircraft would languish at St. Mawgans for six days.]

6 June 1945, St. Mawgans Cornwall to Lagens, Azores, 8 hrs. 42 mins. 9 June 1945, Lagens Azores, to Gander, Newfoundland, 8 hrs. 46 mins.
10 June 1945, Gander, Newfoundland to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 3 hrs, 17 minutes.
The first RCAF Lancaster Mk. X selected for take-off is aircraft NA-F [Fearless Fox] serial KB891, pilot F/L S.V. Eliosoff #J88974.

Led by “Fearless Fox” fourteen other Lancaster Mk. X bombers thunder into the air and head on the first leg to Canada. F/L Cox pilot of KB848, NA-G. “Fightin” Pappy” finds his aircraft is nose heavy and returns to base at Middleton St. George. On 1 June 1945, Fightin’ Pappy and four remaining No. 428 Lancaster bombers take to the air for Canada. In total nineteen No. 428 Lancaster aircraft depart for Canada, however NA-B, KB764 will crash in the sea while landing at the Azores.

The Nose Art of KB891 “Fearless Fox” – [RCAF PL44566]

Fearless Fox arriving at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 8 June 1945. [David Walsh – Lisa Sharp]

Take-off of KB848, NA-G, “Fightin’ Pappy” with pilot F/L G. Cox and crew, 31 May 1945.
LAC Delbert Todd [who took this image] served as ground crew on this Lancaster, which arrived with No. 428 Squadron 20 January 1945, assigned to F/O K.C. Roulston. The Lancaster was first named “Hollywood Caravan” with white and red trim lettering painted under the pilot window. F/O Roulston and crew completed their tour [32 Ops] on 21 February 1945, and the Lancaster was flown by a number of different aircrew. On 4 April 1945, NA-G KB848 was assigned to the crew of pilot F/L Cox and they decided to rename their bomber and give her some new nose art. KB848 became nose art “Fightin’ Pappy” photo from Delbert Todd collection.

The No. 428 Squadron ground and aircrew members shortly after the new nose art was completed in early April 1945. Lancaster KB848 completed 26 operations and had an interesting postwar career. Today this complete original Lancaster cockpit section is restored in WWII RCAF markings and on display in the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. Sadly, her wartime career and colorful nose art are not part of the public display. [Delbert Todd photo – second from left, black coveralls, hand on hip]

Should our Canadian Aviation and Space Museum historians ever decide to paint Lancaster KB848, nose and cockpit section in her correct No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron World War Two markings, this is what she would look like, preserving RCAF Lancaster history. At least someone can now build a correctly marked Canadian Lancaster Mk. X KB848 nose art model.
Nominal roll and 18 Lancaster Aircraft of No. 428 Sqn. flown to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

David Walsh collection [pilot KB843] photo from Lisa Sharp.

8 June 1945, NA-K, serial KB920 first to land at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, taxies to the hangar. She carried a British ‘stowaway’ passenger, a small puppy from U.K. and a new life in Canada. The crew of F/L A.L. Googe are home at last, followed by KB757, KB843, KB891, KB848, KB867, KB864, KB781, and KB747. Lancaster KB882 [NA-R] arrives on 10 June 1945.

Lancaster KB920 shuts down her four engines and receives an official welcome to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. [D. Walsh – Lisa Sharp]

In October 1944, the Canadian War Committee began drawing up plans for the early Canadian air element participation in the Royal Air Force very long range bombing of Japan, titled “Tiger Force.” The early advanced element would consist of one RAF Mosquito squadron, and nine Lancaster squadrons, five RAF, one from Australia, one from New Zealand, and two from Canada. No. 419 [Moose] and 428 [Ghost] were selected to be operational to bomb Japan beginning 1 January 1946. In mid-April 1945, RCAF Overseas Headquarters ordered No. 419 and 428 squadron to leave Middleton-St.-George, “as soon as possible.” On 31 May 1945, this first movement of Canadian built bombers to Canada began, and most carried veteran ‘nose art’ for the upcoming attack on Japan. The next leg of the journey was St. Mawgan, which became the departure base for the Atlantic crossing. Some of the Lancaster aircraft of No. 428 and 419 squadrons were delayed at St. Mawgan, Cornwall, for six days due to inclement weather conditions. Six more RCAF Lancaster squadrons would follow to Canada, No. 431 and 434 at Croft, No. 405 Pathfinder at Gransden Lodge, No. 408 at Linton-on-Ouse, and No. 420 and 425 at Tholthorpe, would complete the bomber force in Tiger Force. Each squadron would fly twenty Lancaster Mk. X aircraft back to Canada, for reorganization and training for RAF “Tiger Force” in the Pacific. They now came under command of War Home Establishment, Eastern Air Command, with H.Q. at Halifax, Nova Scotia. No. 1 Maintenance Wing H.Q. was located at Scoudouc, New Brunswick, with four new [Heavy Bomber] Wings located at Yarmouth, Dartmouth, Debert, and Greenwood, Nova Scotia. On 8 June 1945, No. 419 and 428 Squadron Lancaster bombers began to land at their new Canadian base, No. 661 [Heavy Bomber] Wing, RAF Tiger Force, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. [Officially formed on 15 July 1945] RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, arrival of No. 428 and 419 Squadrons –

Photo D. Walsh via Lisa Sharp.

These eighteen Lancaster Mk. X aircraft from No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron are now being prepared for war against Japan. The aircrews begin 30 days leave [plus travel time] and will report back to their squadrons to prepare for the Pacific Campaign “Tiger Force.” These eighteen Lancaster Mk. X aircraft will be ready to bomb Japan beginning 1 January 1946, including NA-R, KB882. No. 419 and 428 Squadron Lancaster aircraft will be re-equipped with Canadian built Avro Lincoln B. Mk. XV bombers in July 1946. The production of serial FM300 Lincoln is already underway in the plant at Malton, Ontario.
The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, forced Japan into accepting the full terms of the Allied surrender on 15 August, officially signed 2 September. On 5 September 1945, RAF Tiger Force was disbanded before commencement of their combat training, and production of the FM series Lincoln bombers were cancelled with only one constructed. No. 661 Wing at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, No. 662 Wing at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and No. 633 Wing at Debert, Nova Scotia, prepare for disbandment.

The Atomic bombing of Japan will save many veteran Canadian lives as 103,402 men and women had volunteered for service in the Pacific war.

This important aviation fact is most often omitted by today’s generation of Internet historians. On 5 September, at RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, seven Lancaster aircraft are air tested in preparation for the postwar storage ferry flights, one is No. 428 Squadron KB882.

The Canadian Government has decided the Tiger Force Lancaster bombers will be flown across Canada to Calgary, Alberta, then a final stop at the abandoned WWII No. 2 Flying Instructors School at Pearce, Alberta. In the next eight months, over one-hundred and twenty veteran bombers will be flown and placed into long term storage at RCAF Stations in Alberta.

In preparation for the ferrying of these large bomber fights, Lancaster Ferry crews are organized at Yarmouth, Dartmouth, and Debert, in Nova Scotia. These ferry flights are given the title Very Large Range ‘VFR’ Force and will depart in groups of fifteen Lancaster aircraft. The ferry crews are made up of four RCAF members. Pilot, Navigator, Wireless Air Gunner, and Flight Engineer. A list of thirty ferry crews was formed, with each crew assigned to one Lancaster aircraft.

On 7 September 1945, the first fifteen Lancaster bombers depart RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, at one-minute intervals, on the first leg of the ferry flight to St. Hubert Airport in Montreal, Quebec. The sight at Montreal airport was most impressive, as 15 RCAF Lancaster aircraft flew in and landed [17:46 hrs] and were parked by 18:00 hrs. The next morning fifteen more Lancaster aircraft departed Yarmouth for the ferry trip west to Calgary, one being Lancaster KB882. What follows is a poor copy of the original RCAF Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Daily Diary with the list of RCAF Lancaster KB serial numbers in the order they took off for the West. Beside each serial number, I have added the original RCAF Squadron number they flew during WWII. These first thirty Lancaster aircraft would land at re-named No. 102 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, RCAF Pearce, Alberta, on 8 and 9 of September 1945.

On 8 September 1945, the remaining fifteen Lancaster bombers depart RCAF Station Yarmouth for Montreal, Quebec. KB882 is the eighth to take off for the ferry flight west to Calgary, Alberta, with ferry crew #21, pilot F/L G. Walton J89607, Navigator F/O F.E. Sprung J28697, Wireless Air Gunner F/Sgt. J. A. Shaer R260019, and Flight Engineer F/O J. B. McClusky J43393.

Early on 8 September 1945, the first group of 45 Lancaster WWII veteran bombers have departed Montreal for RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba, a selected RCAF Station for refueling.

The “Very Long Range Force” heading West, landing for fuel at RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba, 8 September 1945. Next fuel stop will be Calgary, Alberta, and then south to ex-No. 2 Flying Instructors School at RCAF Pearce, Alberta. [re-named No. 102 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, RCAF Pearce, Alberta, on 21 January 1945]

Ray Wise was employed at Vancouver shipyards until Christmas 1942, when he decided to join the RCAF. In March 1943, he completed his Aero Engine training and was posted to No. 10 Repair Depot, Calgary, Alberta. On 5 September 1945, LAC Raymond Wise, LAC Cook, LAC Wyers, and the NCO in charge Cpl. Edge, were posted to ex-No. 2 F.I.S. School at Pearce, Alberta, now RCAF No. 102 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite. The four lived in a rented house at Fort Macleod, Alberta, and drove an RCAF Chevrolet van to the old abandoned air base each morning, returning each night.

On the afternoon of 8 September 1945, the first fifteen Lancaster bombers began arriving at the RCAF storage base, and with no control tower instructions, these ferry pilots put on their own display of flying skills, terrifying the local farm animals as well as a few of the Alberta farmers. By the 23rd of September 1945, these ferry crews had landed over 120 WWII Lancaster bombers at Pearce, and almost each one carried nose art from the Second World War.

When I interviewed Raymond Wise in 1996, he was 92 years of age, but still spoke with excitement about the spectacular arrival and air-show he had witnessed at Pearce, Alberta, for a number of days in September 1945. The bombers were parked in four long rows, and each morning the four ground-crew mechanics were ordered to fire up each of the four American built Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin engines on each of the 121 Lancaster aircraft. Ray Wise also recorded and preserved the very best RCAF Lancaster WWII collection of nose art I ever found. For a few short months, the very best of Canadian veteran Lancaster WWII nose art, which had flown over and bombed Germany, now rested side by side in an abandoned airfield of southern Alberta.

From the air today, the original RCAF runways and old WWII hangar locations are clearly still visible, almost the same sight which greeted the Lancaster ferry pilots and aircrew in September 1945. [Free domain image 2018]
Now, let’s turn back the pages of time and once again look at Canada’s best WWII Lancaster Nose Art, which no Aviation Museum will display.

After some stunting, the Lancaster aircraft landed and taxied to the front of the RCAF hangars where they were angle parked in four rows. [Ray Wise image taken from control tower]

LAC Cook in front of No. 419 Squadron KB746, VR-S, “Sierra Sue” flown from Yarmouth on 7 September 1945, by ferry crew #14, F/L D.S. Mullin J35317, arrived Pearce the next day.

LAC Cook in front of KB746, with hangar #1 [control tower] and hanger #2 in background. This image was taken looking directly north. These first two hangars were built for the RAF in 1941, and two more [one a double-wide] constructed for RCAF Flying Instructors in 1942.

Sierra Sue became the number one photo favourite and she even caught the eye of Cpl. Edge. She completed 68 operations, [the last bomb was never painted on] a true Canadian veteran in Moose Squadron, scrapped 16 January 1947. (via Ray Wise)

No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron NA-S, KB864, became another photo favourite. She was flown to Pearce by ferry crew #22, F/O R.L. Boyle J4160, arriving on 9 September 1945. In the cockpit sits LAC Cook, front left is LAC Wyers, and with left hand on prop is LAC Raymond Wise. RCAF historians owe this man a special thanks for preserving Lancaster nose art at No. 102 R.E.M.S. Pearce, Alberta.

Unfortunately, not one aviation museum in Canada will display the correct history, artists, or images, including the Bomber Command Museum at Nanton, Alberta.

No. 428 Squadron KB864, Sugar’s Blues was named after a very popular wartime Jazz swing dance tune, with both sides of her nose painted by my departed friend wireless air gunner Sgt. Thomas Walton. The lady came from the January 1945, Esquire pin-up girl by Alberto Vargas. Tom passed away in 2018, he was 95 years of age.

P/O Tom Walton [J93791 promoted in February] painted “Sugar” [that’s what he called her] in mid-January and this is his finished nose art, with her left nipple showing.

NA-S, KB864 at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 8 June 1945, flown by American born pilot F/L R. Laturner. The starboard nose art painted by Tom Walton featuring a Ghost dropping a 500-pound blue bomb. Flown from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on 8 September 1945, by ferry crew #22, pilot F/O R.L. Boyle J4160, Navigator F/L G. F. Kean J17489, Wireless WO/I D. McDermond R162318, and F/O G. Baker J49337.

Raymond Wise riding Lancaster KB864 like an Alberta cowboy, while LAC Wyers gives a thumbs up from the cockpit, mid-September 1945.
Sugar’s Blues was placed into long-term storage at Pearce, Alberta, and she never left. Parked beside the airfield, disposed 16 January 1947, used for spare parts in 1950-51. Cut up on site in 1956, sold for scrap.

The graveyard of WWII Lancaster airframes rest in the farm hayfield next to the abandoned airfield at Pearce, Alberta, summer 1955. They will soon be cut up, placed onto railway cars and shipped to Quebec for smelting. Maybe someone in Quebec today has an old pot or pan made from Sugar’s Blues.

Below PT-V, KB910, No. 420 Squadron, no operations. Photos – Paul Szoke from Nanton.

No. 428 Squadron NA-L, KB867, which replaced KB725 after it crashed on 3 February 1945. “L for Lanky” flew her first Op. on 21/22 February 1945, and finished the war with eighteen operations, which were painted as Jerry [piss pots] that were dumped on Germany. Flown to Canada by F/L A.S. Webb, she landed on 9 June 1945, 18:00 hrs. where the above image was taken.

Close-up of nose art taken by Ray Wise at Pearce, Alberta.

Another ground crew image at Pearce – far left unknown, Wyers, Wise, and Cook. KB867 arrived with second group of thirty Lancaster aircraft on 13 September 1945.

This is a copy of the original RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Lancaster Mk. X ferry crew list for 7 and 8 September 1945. Lancaster KB882, flown by F/L G. Walton J89607, departed Yarmouth, N.S. for Calgary, Alberta, on 8 September 1945 and arrived at Pearce, the following day, where she was parked beside a line of her sister aircraft.

This image was taken by LAC Raymond Wise at No. 102 R.E.M.S. Pearce, Alberta, after the arrival of the first thirty Lancaster Mk. X veteran bombers, 9 September 1945. Twenty-four of these Canadian manufactured Lancaster Mk. X aircraft were original World War Two combat veterans, which flew with our RCAF squadrons over Germany, and survived to return to Canadian soil. No. 419 [Moose] Squadron and No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron were the two most senior Lancaster operated squadrons at the end of the war in Europe, containing our best Canadian Lancaster nose art paintings. Eleven of the bombers in this photo flew with No. 419 Squadron and thirteen flew with No. 428 Squadron, including KB882, which is somewhere in this image. KB882 would be flown out of Pearce, Alberta, [in the next six months] and placed into long-term storage at RCAF Station Fort Macleod, Alberta. In June 1956, this veteran WWII bomber was pulled from her hangar and modified as a test-bed for RCAF night-photography. The Lancaster was withdrawn from post-war service in the RCAF on 17 March 1962, and two years later sold to the City of Edmundston, New Brunswick.

This rare, WWII veteran Canadian built and flown RCAF bomber has never been painted correctly or ever displayed in her original No. 428 [Ghost] colour markings, and now she never will. If you watch any episodes of American or Canadian Pickers, you soon learn that rare, one-of-a-kind antique items are never painted over or changed, as that would totally destroy their historical content and value. Even average, main-stream Canadians know if you find a rare Ford Model T automobile, you would never repaint it as a Chevrolet and then display it as a collector’s item.

Sadly, when it comes to our RCAF WWII history and aircraft, the average Canadian leaves it up to the RCAF to preserve, display, and teach future generations of youth what we constructed and flew in the past.

After spending the past 51 years outside in Canadian weather, Lancaster KB882 ownership was at long last transferred from the City of Edmundston, New Brunswick, to the National Air Force Museum of Canada at Trenton, Ontario, the home of the RCAF, on 20 September 2017. Preserved and protected indoors.

In 1940, as the war in England worsened, the British turned to Canada for Lancaster bomber production, out of range of the destructive German bombers. The location chosen to construct the Lancaster Mk. X in Canada became Malton, Ontario, the National Steel and Car Corporation Aircraft Division. Due to political, and managements problems, the company was taken over by the Canadian Government on 5 November 1942, and as a Crown Corporation was renamed Victory Aircraft Ltd, later becoming A.V. Roe Canada Ltd.

A British built Mk. I Lancaster serial R5727 was flown from England, and this aircraft became the master tool and pattern standard for the Canadian constructed Lancaster Mk. X bombers.

This British built Lancaster was later acquired by Trans-Canada Airways [T.C.A.] and modified with nose windows, faired over rear gun position, and windows fitted in her fuselage. It began trans-Atlantic service on 22 July 1943, flying freight, mail, and ten passengers across to England.

This is R5727 now registered as CF-CMS for T.C.A., image taken at Dorval [Quebec] airport in preparation for her first Trans-Atlantic flight to Prestwick, Scotland. The first Canadian Lancaster used in Civil Transportation was in fact a British Lancaster Mk. I, which flew combat with No. 44 Squadron in the RAF, made the first Lancaster trip to Canada across the Atlantic, became the pattern bomber for all Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X’s, and last transported secret mail, freight, and V.I.P.’s back and forth from Canada to U.K.

Now, that is a lot of aviation history for one Lancaster bomber. Fitted with extra fuel tanks, and ten passenger seats, Lancaster R5727 also became the pattern civil air transport on four other T.C.A. constructed transports on the Malton Lancaster production line. KB702 became CF-CMT [TCA-101], KB702 became CF-CMU [TCA-102] KB729 became CF-CMV [TCA-103] and KB730 became CF-CMW [TCA-104].

Just sixteen months after the first Canadian Lancaster drawings were completed, KB700 the Canadian prototype was air tested on 1 August 1943. Due to political interference and insistence the new bomber leave at once for England, the christening ceremony was rushed to 20 August, and the unfinished bomber flew off to Dorval, Quebec, where her construction was completed. Delayed for two weeks, she did not arrive in England until 15 September 1943. The first 300 Lancaster Mk. X aircraft were assigned the manufacture’s serial numbers KB700 to KB999, built between August 1943 and March 1945.

All of the KB series combat aircraft were ferried to England with the loss of only one KB828. During the spring of 1945, the Victory Aircraft Ltd work force of almost 10,000 persons [30% female] produced one Canadian Lancaster per day. No. 419 and No. 428 Squadrons were assigned the most Canadian built Lancaster aircraft in WWII and they lost the most aircrew and bombers.

No. 419 [Moose] squadron lost forty-two Lancaster Mk. X aircraft to enemy action, seven crash landed on return from operations and three were lost in training accidents. Today Lancaster FM213 has been restored to flying condition painted as KB726 of No. 419 [Moose] Squadron and flies in honour of P/O Mynarski V.C., shot down 12/13 June 1944. Thanks to Canadian Warplane Heritage, the Mynarski Lancaster is the only flying example of a Canadian Avro Mk. X Lancaster in North America, however FM213 never flew operations during WWII and this aircraft will always be a replica painted RCAF bomber. The only original part of Lancaster FM213 which flew operations in WWII is the centre wing section, which came from KB895 [Lady Orchid] of No. 434 [Bluenose] Squadron. Thus, FM213 is in fact a hybrid of a wartime combat aircraft wing [KB895] and herself, which never flew combat operations during WWII.

Today, August 2019, the original rare combat flown [eleven operations] Lancaster KB882 is under a seven-year restoration program, reappearing in her postwar markings as Lancaster 10 A.R. [Aerial Reconnaissance] of No. 408 Squadron.

I have no idea why Senior RCAF Officers at Trenton, Ontario, would pass over the history of this rare WWII Canadian constructed veteran bomber and their very own RCAF WWII roots, for a postwar photo taking patrol aircraft. I guess they never watched any episodes of American or Canadian Pickers.

My history on Lancaster KB882 is being published in an attempt to educate the average Canadian public to what the RCAF has done at Trenton, Ontario. It will not make any difference, but just maybe a few relatives from the aircrew who flew KB882 in WWII can read her rare aviation past. Unlike our present day RCAF Senior Officers, I will never forget our RCAF veterans who flew and died in ‘our’ Lancaster Mk. X bombers over the bloody skies of Europe. It is becoming increasingly harder for a new generation of Canadians, and new immigrants to understand what took place during WWII, if our aviation museums do not paint our aircraft correctly, and fail to educate with the truth, Canadians may never understand.

In total 7,377 Avro Lancaster aircraft were built and 3,736 were lost during the Second World War. Victory Aircraft Ltd at Malton, Ontario, constructed 430 Avro Lancaster aircraft, and today ten of these Canadian bombers survive in the world, eight remain in Canada. From the total of 7,377 Avro Lancaster aircraft which were constructed, only seventeen survive in the world today. From this total of seventeen survivors only two British constructed Lancaster bombers [R5868 and W4783] and two Canadian constructed Lancaster bombers [KB839 and KB882] flew operational RAF Bomber Command combat sorties during World War Two. R5868 was constructed in early 1942, and today is painted correctly in the RAF Museum in England. W4783 was also constructed in early 1942, and after flying in an RAF squadron, was transferred to the RAAF in October 1944. This combat veteran was flown to Australia in postwar, restored in correct RAAF markings and remains in their Australian Museum today. These two British constructed RAF operational WWII bombers have been preserved and painted correctly for the education of all future British and Australian citizens.

Today our modern Canadian historians tend to only glorify the Canadians who won awards, or lost their lives during combat, and forget about the ones killed in training accidents. No. 419 [Moose] Squadron lost three Lancaster aircraft and twenty-one aircrew members in accidents. On 24 November 1944, Lancaster KB785 [Y-Yoke} took off [14:20 hrs.] on a normal night time practice bombing exercise to the Bradbury bombing Range. At around 18:20 hrs the NCO at the Bradbury Range heard the engines of the approaching Canadian bomber, then saw a great flash in the night sky, followed by silence. At first light the bodies of the seven Canadians were recovered from the crash site. [RCAF image from Vince Elmer collection]

In Canada, our modern RCAF, [really the taxpayers] owns the two Canadian constructed Avro Lancaster Mk. X bombers, both of which flew operational sorties under RAF Bomber Command during WWII. Sadly, our modern day RCAF has done what the German Luftwaffe could not complete during WWII, they have destroyed both of ‘our’ rare original combat bombers.

When KB882 is painted in her postwar colors, all Canadians have lost a rare original aircraft from our World War Two RCAF history. In my attempt to keep a positive attitude, I am very pleased to see this Lancaster restored, placed indoors protected from the harsh Canadian weather, and yes, even correctly painted in her postwar colors. This will educate future Canadians, but most important is the fact this aircraft can still be restored back to her original rare WWII condition, if smarter RCAF historians [bureaucrats] later prevail at RCAF Trenton.

Fortunately for all Canadians, aviation historians, bureaucrats, and RCAF members, we have a second rare combat veteran Lancaster Mk. X, KB839, which flew twenty-six operations during WWII, and was constructed earlier than KB882. [To the average Canadian, this Lancaster survivor would be equal to the most famous American B-17 Memphis Belle]

This Lancaster was the 139th Mk. X bomber built at Malton, Ontario, serial KB839. Ferried to England in November 1944, she entered service with No. 419 Squadron in January 1945, receiving the code letters VR-D [Dog]. After her first operation was completed to Stuttgart, Germany, on 28/29 January 1945, she was given the name “Daisy” and the nose art painting of a popular comic strip dog in Blondie.

The complete history of the RCAF’s oldest and rarest surviving WWII Lancaster bomber was published in August 2005 by Col [Retired] Herb Ernest Smale, and the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum, Nova Scotia, and I have one personnel signed copy. Herb Smale, age 90 years, passed away on 19 February 2019, an RCAF veteran, ex-Commanding Officer, and a trusted true aviation friend.

During Herb’s Lancaster research, a full scale nose art painting of “Daisy” was completed by the author on original Lancaster skin from the museum at Nanton Alberta, and donated to the Greenwood Museum, to preserve the history of our most famous WWII Canadian Lancaster Mk. X aircraft. The crew of pilot F/L Peter Tulk named KB839 “Daisy” and completed eight combat operations in ‘their’ bomber, including the return flight to Canada where they arrived on 10 June 1945. The following No. 419 [Moose] Squadron Canadian Lancaster Mk. X bombers were flown to Canada, RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 10 to 16 June 1945. Eleven of these World War Two veteran aircraft [underlined] were flown to No. 102 R.E.M.S. Pearce, Alberta, between 8 and 9 September 1945, part of the first thirty bombers ferried west for long-term storage.

The little dog “Daisy” in the comic strip Blondie for 1944.

VR-A KB841 F/L F.G. Dawson 10 June 1945
VR-B KB721 “Linden Rose” F/O J. W. Smith 10 June 1945
VR-C KB881 “Chopper” F/L G. L. Smith 10 June 1945

VR-D KB839 “Daisy” F/L P. H. Tulk 10 June 1945

RCAF Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, June 1945

VR-E KB865 F/L E.G. Peters 12 June 1945
VR-F KB783 P/O D.G. Brown 10 June 1945
VR-G KB733 “Goofy” P/O D.E. Rickerts 16 June 1945
VR-I KB878 F/L B.A. Nichols 10 June 1945
VR-K KB884 S/L D.B. Hunter 10 June 1945
VR-M KB889 P/O D.W. Laubman 10 June 1945
VR-N KB857 F/L C. J. Widdicomb 10 June 1945
VR-O KB748 “Lady Oboe” F/L W.G. Manning 10 June 1945
VR-P KB892 S/L J. W. Watts 10 June 1945
VR-Q KB921 “Queen of the Swamp II F/L B. P. Wickham 10 June 1945
VR-R KB772 “Ropey” F/O R.E. Chambers 10 June 1945
VR-S KB746 “Sierra Sue” F/L J. E. Short 13 June 1945
VR-T KB854 “She’s Trudy Terrific” P/O D. R. Cushman 10 June 1945
VR-U KB823 “Lily Marlene” P/O J. C. MacNeil 12 June 1945
VR-W KB851 “The Captain’s Baby” W/C M. E. Ferguson 10 June 1945
VR-X KB732 “X-Terminator” F/L D. B. Lambroughton 10 June 1945

KB839, “Daisy” was flown from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, by ferry crew #5, S/L J. F. Thomas # J7975, departing 8 September 1945 and arriving at Pearce, Alberta, the following day. In the next few days she was photographed by LAC Ray Wise, and became part of his nose art collection. Today we only have these photos and the history book by Herb Smale, to preserve and educate future Canadians on the RCAF WWII past of Lancaster Mk. X “Daisy.” That simply means very few Canadians will learn the true history of our most famous Lancaster X bomber.

These two images were taken by Ray Wise at Pearce, Alberta, and clearly capture the wartime nose art painting of the little dog Daisy, and her pups, from the comic strip named “Blondie.” This is Canada’s oldest surviving original combat flown WWII Lancaster Mk. X bomber; however, she has never been honored or painted in her correct RCAF markings or nose art from the Second World War. This veteran WWII RCAF aircraft KB839 has been stripped of paint and repainted four different times, and now she wears the colors of a British built Lancaster Mk. III aircraft, serial JB226, which means our original Canadian built Mk. X WWII bomber has become an RAF replica, which never flew in No. 6 [RCAF] Group of Bomber Command.

During her fourth restoration and repainting by the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum, someone decided to paint “Daisy” in the markings of a British built Lancaster Mk. III, serial JB226, which flew with No. 405 [RCAF] Pathfinder Squadron. A copy from the original Operations Record Book appears above, giving all the required details of the crew who were shot down on 17/18 November 1943. Much more can be found on the Internet in regards to why our rarest Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X was painted as a replica British Mk. III constructed aircraft. This airframe is still the oldest original RCAF Lancaster Mk. X in the world, which flew combat operations for the RAF during WWII, and carried the name “Daisy.”

Our RCAF history can never be changed with a new paint job, code letters, or a replica British serial, but our RCAF still try. Why senior RCAF officers and aviation historians allowed this to take place is very alarming, however, the most important task is the protection and preservation of this rare Canadian Mk. X built airframe for possible future correct RCAF historical restoration.

Do professional Canadian aviation historians even understand what the RCAF have done?

Thanks to our modern thinking RCAF, “Daisy” is now the only Canadian constructed Lancaster Mk. X in the world which flew combat operations during WWII, and it sits outside at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, painted as a British built RAF bomber. Will “Daisy” be lost forever, just like our Avro Arrows? No. 6 [RCAF] Group was “Canadian” and our RCAF Museums should be telling our history and preserving our Canadian built Lancaster Nose Art not British.

No. 6 [RCAF] Bomber Group was unique in that it was designed and composed completely of Canadian squadrons. By April 1945, nine RCAF squadrons were flying the four-engine Lancaster bomber, five of these were equipped with the Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X aircraft. With the end of the war in Europe, No. 419 [Moose] Squadron had flown the most Lancaster Mk. X operations and more sorties than any other RCAF Lancaster Squadron. For that reason, the surviving Lancaster aircraft in No. 419 Squadron had claimed many impressive Canadian achievements and carried some historical nose art paintings. They were coming back to Canada, and after the surrender of Japan, would never drop bombs or fly in anger again.

LAC Ray Wise captured many of No. 419 Squadrons most famous Lancaster nose art images at Pearce, Alberta, knowing this was possibly their final flight. Raymond was proud of serving in the RCAF and justly very proud of what these Canadian constructed bombers had done to bring peace to our world.

This RCAF photo PL43722 has been published many times showing our most famous Canadian Lancaster Mk. X, serial KB732, VR-X for “X-Terminator. This was taken just minutes before her last 84th operation as A.V.M. C.M. McEwen, CB, MC, DFC, and Bar chats with two of her aircrew. Far left is Group Commander H. B. Godwin, A/C C.R. Dunlap, F/Sgt. D.R. McTaggart rear-gunner, the AVM, and the pilot F/L Barney Wickham.
“X-Terminator” departed for Canada with pilot F/L D.B. Lambroughton at her controls, landing at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 10 June 1945 and departing for Calgary, Alberta, on 8 September 1945, with ferry crew #23 F/O W.A. Herboanke J85688. Replica life-size nose art hangs in Canada’s Bomber Command Museum, Nanton, Alberta.

Correct nose art markings early May 1945.

Ray Wise photo of LAC Wyers, Cpl. Edge and LAC Cook standing in front of Canada’s most famous WWII Lancaster Mk. X bomber, KB732, X-Terminator at Pearce, Alberta, 10 September 1945. After shooting down two German night-fighters and surviving 84 combat operations over Germany, she will be flown to North Calgary [ex-RAF hangars] and placed into long-term storage. On 15 May 1948, this veteran bomber will be unceremoniously scrapped without any thought by Canadian authorities, and out most important RCAF Lancaster Mk. X history has just slipped away.

One older veteran Lancaster in No. 428 Squadron was KB747, NA-X [72 Ops.] “Madam X.” On landing at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 8 June 1945, she ran off the runway. Pilot F/O E.T. Lewis from Turner Valley, Alberta, took some heat from his fellow pilots.

Madam X arrived at Pearce, Alberta, 13 September 1945, pulled from storage on 19 January 1948 and scrapped. Full history and images are found on my Blog, “Preserving the Past” #1. The replica scale nose art painting of “Madam X” [on Nanton Lancaster skin] can be seen in the Military Museums of Calgary, No. 6 RCAF Group, Historical section.

A second veteran bomber flying 72 operations in No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron was KB760, NA-P [P for Panic] landing at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 12 June 1945.

Under an arrangement between the RCAF High Command and the Victory Aircraft Ltd. in Malton [Toronto], Ontario, KB760 was flown to the plant where she was constructed, so the 10,000 employees could see one of their own surviving combat flown bombers. The above image was taken at Malton, Ontario, on 13 June 1945, as Flying Officer R.L. Boyle points to the 72 bombs on her nose.

The starboard nose art “P” for Panic in large red letters with white trim. Image from collection of original Calgary pilot F/O Jack Carter J22971, August 1944.

KB760 was selected due to the fact she was a veteran Canadian Lancaster Mk. X and carried original WWII impressive nose, fuselage, and tail gunner combat flown RCAF markings.

Original KB760 fuselage door and rear gun markings from pilot F/O Jack Carter collection.

On arrival at Malton airport, the crew posed for this image. Left to right are F/O D.A. Matheson, F/O D.F. Moore, W/O D.A. McAmmond, F/O R.J. Foord, F/L D.W. Irvine, Sgt. E. Jenner, and in the doorway is pilot F/O R.L. Boyle. Four days later the crew returned to Yarmouth, and went their different ways on 30 days leave. On 8 September, ferry crew #19, F/L D.F. Verden J24596, flew KB760 to Pearce, Alberta, arriving the following day.

The Ray Wise nose art collection contains three photos of KB760, this one with Cpl. Edge in the cockpit running each engine, which now have red spinners.

LAC Wyers in the cockpit of KB760 and behind is Lancaster NA-F “Fearless Fox” KB891.

Both of these veteran Lancaster Mk. X bombers were disposed of by RCAF on 16 January 1947. I believe they were purchased by farmer Albert Hoving of High River, Alberta, sold to the Found Brothers and used for spare parts in the 1950s.

Today [2019] it is still possible to see a half-ass [incorrectly] painted replica of this Lancaster bomber painted on KB944 in the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Canada. In 1962, a pilot named Lynn Garrison of Calgary, Alberta, began collecting aircraft for “Canada’s Flying Aviation Museum” something like Vintage Wings of Canada is today. This caused a bit of a stir in Ottawa, both political and in the RCAF, and plans soon developed to form the National Aeronautical Collection based in old RCAF hangars at Rockcliffe, Ontario. In 1965, they began a search for an old KB series Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X bomber which flew in combat operations during WWII. It was soon discovered the Canadian Government had scrapped and destroyed all of the most famous veteran bombers which had been parked at Pearce, Alberta, in September 1945. Then someone found KB994, which was ready to be scrapped at RCAF Station Mountain View, Ontario. This Lancaster had never flown operations in WWII but it was from the KB series and could be painted as a replica to look like a famous WWII RCAF bomber. In 1967, KB994 was incorrectly painted with bombs and a smaller image of the famous RAF cartoon pilot P/O Percy Prune. The other markings [fuselage, tail, P for Panic] on the bomber were never painted, including the pilot words – “The Lover, Loin Me, and The Kiss Kid.” When I interviewed pilot Jack Carter he explained this was an adult joke painted by his ground crew, in referenced to him being a poor pilot and being gay. Of course Jack was neither, being a top qualified pilot with hundreds of hours as a bomber flying instructor before he began his tour of operations.

If you wish to read the complete history of Lancaster KB760 [and KB944] it is found on my Blog, Preserving the Past, #1.

No. 419 [Moose] Squadron flew the first [more than one aircraft] Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X bomber operations on 27 April 1944, to Montzen, Germany, where eight attacked with five Halifax bombers. KB706 [A], KB701 [B], KB711 [C], KB716 [D], KB712 [L], KB719 [T], KB728 [V], and KB713 [X]. This became a No. 6 [RCAF] Group first which is noted in their Daily Operations Record Book.

KB733 arrived with the squadron a few weeks later and received code letters VR-G [G for Goofy]. LAC R. J. Rutz from Hanna, Alberta, painted the new nose art of “Goofy” on the Lancaster and she flew her first operation on 24/25 May 1944 to Aachen-Roth Erde, Germany. Using his bomb stencil, LAC Rutz paints her first bomb tally, and sixty-nine more will appear, the fourth most operations flown by a Canadian Lancaster during WWII.

Goofy arrived at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on 16 June 1945, and her serial number never appears with the Lancaster aircraft ferried to Alberta in September 1945. Goofy was assigned as an RCAF instructional airframe [#A450] and flown to Camp Borden, Ontario, 28 September 1945.

KB733 was struck off charge by the RCAF on 18 May 1948, and scrapped without saving her nose art. Goofy was the third oldest surviving RCAF Lancaster that flew in WWII, destroyed and forgotten by the passage of time. The oldest Lancaster Mk. X to return to Canada was KB721, a sister-ship coded VR-B [50 operations] with the nose art name “Linden Rose.”

VR-B “Linden Rose” at RCAF Aylmer, Ontario, used for postwar instructional airframe #A448, 29 September 1945 until 25 November 1948. Sold for scrap.

F/O J. W. Smith arrived with No. 419 Squadron on 6 February 1945, and flew his first operation in VR-J as second Dickie to F/O Griffith, target Duisberg, Germany. The following day he flew second Dickie with F/L Collard to Pforzheim, Germany. On 23 February, his crew flew VR-D to Mainz, Germany, followed by thirteen operations, the last on 16 April 1945, Lancaster VR-S. They flew their bomber “Linden Rose” on seven ops. and returned her to Canada 10 June 1945.

After surviving 50 trips over Germany, “Linden Rose” arrives at Yarmouth, N. S. 10 June 1945.

KB721 was struck off charge by RCAF 25 November 1948, sold to Mr. Cameron Logan at Scotland, Ontario, towed over-land from RCAF Aylmer and scrapped. Images from Lisa Sharp, the granddaughter of pilot F/O J. W. Smith J41159 [Smitty painted on cockpit] who flew his bomber on seven operations, 21 March until 16 April 1945. Below at Aylmer in 1948.

Today this airframe would be worth two million dollars or even more.

Left is Peter Whitfield, from Sarnia, Ontario, and right is Lisa Sharp, the granddaughter of Linden Rose pilot F/O W. J. Smith.
I first met Peter in the early days of the old Lancaster Museum at Nanton, Alberta. Each and every summer, Peter, and his wonderful parents would fly from Ontario, rent a motel room, and for the next two weeks arrived each morning to work on the restoration of the Alberta Lancaster bomber. Lisa flew as a ground crew member on Lancaster KB726 [FM213] the famous “Mynarski” bomber at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, for many years. Lisa inspected every part of the Lancaster bomber, making sure it was safe for the pilots to thrill the airshow crowds. These ‘average’ Canadians never receive a mention from our Canadian government, Senior RCAF Officers, or most of all the C.E.O.s, V.I.P.s and bureaucrats who get paid to run our Canadian Aviation Museums. Without these volunteers, many museums in Canada could not survive, and they volunteer their time and money to preserve our RCAF past. When Peter asked me to paint a replica nose art of “Linden Rose” on original Nanton Lancaster aircraft skin, I was honored to do so. RCAF nose art painted on original aircraft skin becomes a living memorial to a loved one who served or gave his life for Canada during WWII. Why can’t our modern RCAF museums understand that?

Our next veteran Lancaster was KB746, NA-S, named Sierra Sue, which appeared in my lead-in history of Pearce, surviving 68 operations over Europe.

This was followed by No. 419 VR-R [Ropey] KB772 which completed 64 operations. During my interview with ground crew LAC Delbert Todd, he informed me that the nose art name was never painted on the Lancaster during combat operations. Then to my surprise, Delbert showed me a photo showing VR-R without a name, taken in mid-May 1945 at Middleton-St.-George. The name Ropey was painted on her nose just a day or two before take-off on 31 May 1945. So, if you are researching a painting, or building a model of KB772 flying operations, don’t paint her with the name Ropey. KB772 never flew combat operations with a nose art name.

KB772 in mid-May 1945, being prepared for the trip to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on 31 May 1945. The Lancaster has 64 bombs but no nose name when LAC Todd took this photo.

Arrival at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, 10 June 1945, wearing name “Ropey.” Lisa Sharp image.

Ray Wise image taken 10 September 1945, at Pearce, Alberta. LAC Cook, Wyers, and Ray Wise.

Ropey was still at No. 102 R.E.M.S. Pearce for Christmas 1945, with a covering on her cold nose. It’s possible she never left the airfield, and was sold for scrap on 13 May 1947. Purchased by wealthy rancher Albert Hoving of High River for around $250. Re-sold to the Found Brothers from Malton, Ontario, for $800 in 1950, then re-sold by the Found Brothers back to the Canadian Government for $10,000 in 1951. Used by the RCAF for spare parts, airframe scrapped at Pearce grave-yard in mid-1950s. The found Brothers story will appear later in my history.

No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron NA-Z “Zoomin’ Zombie” KB739 became the first RCAF “Ice Wagon”

No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron NA-Z, KB739, “Zoomin’ Zombie” completed her last and 56th operation on 25 April 1945, a sister ship of KB882 which today survives in Trenton, Ontario. The pilot was F/O D.W. Murray and the names of his crew are shown above. The return flight to Canada was completed by F/L C.W. Pratt and crew [photo] arriving at Yarmouth, N. S. on 8 June 1945.

After surviving 56 operations over Europe, this veteran Lancaster was one of 288 Canadian constructed bombers to return to Canada, and one of 121 selected for long-term storage at Pearce, Alberta, but she never made the flight. In the postwar era our Lancaster bombers would enjoy an entire new life in the RCAF, and over 100 would be renovated as Lancaster 10s with nine different designations. Most of the early postwar Lancaster aircraft were from the newer FM series which never flew operations during WWII, however many old veterans flew postwar and Zoomin’ Zombie KB739 became the very first. This veteran Ghost Squadron aircraft was taken on charge 12 June 1945, by RCAF Test and Development Establishment Flight at Rockcliffe, Ontario, and became the first unofficial named Rockcliffe “Ice Wagon.” On 5 July 1945, she began electric priming and alcohol de-icing wing testing, but the old warhorse kept breaking down and was unserviceable for many days, which delayed the de-icing test flights. She was replaced by KB961, [new aircraft which never flew operations]. She was flown to Edmonton, Alberta, taken on charge 5 December 1945, by RCAF Winter Experimental Establishment at Namao, Alberta, created on 1 October 1945, but her postwar career was short. In the harsh arctic winter conditions, the skin of Zombie would shrink an inch, her oil seals leaked, and the maintenance to keep her in the air was once again driving the RCAF ground crews crazy. She was placed into storage at Namao in early February 1946, then replaced by a newer Lancaster FM148 on 28 June 1946, and sent for scrapping in the summer of 1948. The postwar history of Canada’s first “Ice Wagon” was then forgotten and just lost with the passage of time.

In the mid-1990’s I featured a number of nose art displays at the then named Lancaster Museum in Nanton, Alberta. During a chat with a visitor named George Marks from Calgary, he mentioned he owned a Lancaster nose art negative and image print, which I could have if I wished. On a visit to George’s home in Calgary, I learned he was a professional photographer and had won a number of awards for his many photo images. In March 1948, George was taking photos around an RCAF storage yard in North Edmonton [RCAF Namao] and came across one RCAF Lancaster Mk. X fuselage which had been partly scrapped. George liked what he saw and snapped this one image, entered it in a photo contest, and walked away with first prize.

This is also a very prized RCAF historical photo which preserves the very last days of a proud RCAF combat veteran Lancaster KB739, NA-Z, from WWII.

For model aviation builders, [or aviation painters] it confirms this first postwar veteran bomber flew with RCAF Test and Development Est. Flight at Rockcliffe, Ontario, and then RCAF Winter Experimental Establishment, Namao, [North Edmonton] wearing her WWII camouflage markings and nose art. Her RCAF Namao replacement FM148 [never flew operations] arrived 28 June 1946, and the RCAF ground crew completely stripped her of all WWII camouflage, and repainted her with their own paint scheme, containing prewar RAF roundels. Another model builder’s one-of-a-kind postwar history making RCAF Lancaster.

This image should also be a “wake-up call” to Senior RCAF Officers, to the historical fact KB882, the sister Lancaster to “Zoomin’ Zombie” is at this moment being restored and painted in postwar markings. We [Canadians] only have one other original Lancaster Mk. X serial KB839, VR-D “Daisy” which flew in WWII. She sits outdoors at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, painted as a British built RAF Lancaster Mk. III. It appears our modern RCAF is destroying their past roots, and with it, all the men and women who died wearing a shoulder patch reading CANADA.

The replacement Lancaster at RCAF Rockcliffe for KB739 [Zoomin’ Zombie] became a new aircraft KB961, which was flown to England, but never assigned to any RCAF Squadron. On 26 May 1945, Lancaster KB961, was assigned to No. 405 [Vancouver] Squadron which were reassigned to No. 6 [RCAF] Group from British Pathfinder Squadron. KB961 was painted with code letters LQ-A, flown to Canada, and landed at RCAF Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 21 June 1945. Flown for storage at Pearce, Alberta, 23 September 1945.

The Canadian laboratories of the National Research Council in Ottawa, began research into the problems of aircraft propeller icing in February 1935. In the spring of 1939, the British requested that aircraft air-icing be conducted in Canada by the National Research Council, in collaboration with the RAF establishment at Farnborough, England. With the declaration of war, the two governments agreed the actual in-flight icing testing would be conducted by RCAF aircrews in Canada, using aircraft supplied by both Canada and England. On 6 September 1939, Test and Development Establishment Flight was formed at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, [Ottawa] Ontario, which included testing in many aspects of aviation. By the fall of 1944, the major problem of propeller icing had been solved with the development of an electric propeller de-icer, which was patented by the National Research Council, and came into worldwide use in the postwar years. The British Ministry of Aviation now requested a priority in conducting icing tests on four engine ferry aircraft over the Atlantic from Canada to England. This in-flight air-testing would be conducted by an American [lend-lease] aircraft PB4Y2 Privateer, the U. S. Navy designated RY3, serial number JT973. When the British flown RY3 arrived at Dorval, Quebec, in March 1945, RAF No. 45 Group Ferry Route to England was disbanded and this caused delays in obtaining the RAF bomber for in-flight ice testing. On 12 June 1945, RCAF Test and Development at Rockcliffe, applied for an RCAF Lancaster bomber to begin the ice testing, and veteran KB739 “Zoomin’ Zombie” was despatched to Ottawa from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, RCAF orders D/23/45. Modifications for flight wing spraying were completed on 27 June, and the first air test was conducted on 5 July 1945. The nose of the Lancaster was modified with a two-foot spray apparatus system which covered the propellers as well as the leading edge of the Lancaster wing with water, which turned to ice. The Lancaster soon earned the name “Ice Wagon” which would be later passed on to the British Liberator IX, serial JT937, in June 1946. Due to the old veteran Lancaster KB739 becoming unserviceable, the unit requested a newer model aircraft for testing and KB961 was selected from storage in Alberta, and flown to Rockcliffe, [Ottawa] Ontario, December 1945. After modification, [January 1946] the new Lancaster bomber began ice-testing for RCAF Test and Development Establishment, with a newly painted nose art featuring a large Raven flying into an ice storm.

KB961 “T & D Rockcliffe Lankie” began water droplet-testing in January 1946, and continued until June 1949, when she was replaced by Lancaster FM199. On 11 January 1946, the British Air Ministry agreed to continue the four-engine ice testing in co-operation with the RCAF Test and Development and lend-lease American RY3 aircraft serial JT973 arrived 24 April 1946. The first test was conducted 5 June 1946, and she was christened “The Rockcliffe Ice Wagon” with appropriate nose art of a “Godly Iceman.”

RY3 made her last ice-test 8 June 1948, flown to Trenton for disposal 1 December 1948, and scrapped 16 November 1949. North Star serial 17513 became the new “Ice Wagon” [December 1950] and the forgotten Lancaster KB961 was modified to a 10SR for Search and Rescue and served with No. 404 Squadron until 28 September 1955, then scrapped.

The Rockcliffe Ice Wagon was painted 5 June 1946, nose art by the very same clever RCAF artist who painted Lancaster KB961, [T & D Rockcliffe Lankie] however his name is unknown. For aviation historians, it should be recorded that RCAF Lancaster KB739, “Zoomin’ Zombie” became the very first Canadian four-engine [Ice Wagon] bomber to be modified and used for electric priming [propellers] and de-icing test flights by RCAF Test and Development at Rockcliffe, Ontario, beginning 5 July 1945. KB739 flew in her WWII markings, including her nose art, and she was the first RCAF test aircraft nicknamed “Ice Wagon.” The second ice wagon became Lancaster KB961, January 1946, which was painted by the RCAF artist in spring of 1946, conducting de-icing tests before the arrival of the American Liberator C. Mk. IX [U.S. Navy RY-3 #90021] 24 April 1946. The American Privateer became the best modified weather research aircraft and the show-piece for the RCAF in Ottawa, but the true facts show the aircraft was a disappointment. The British had only allotted ten per cent of test money for spare parts, and the RY-3 was an orphan, with inherited problems. Her motors were unreliable, gas tanks leaked, Pratt and Whitney Canada could not overhaul her engines, they did not have the equipment in Canada. Spare parts were impossible to find as the Americans had sent their RY-3’s to scrap yards. The RCAF aircrews disliked and distrusted the aircraft and her last flight was 8 June 1948. The last member of the American Liberator family vanished from RCAF history and Lancaster KB961 flew on until fall of 1955. Nose art has preserved this lost RCAF history.

The Moose nose art on KB799, the 100th Canadian built Mk. X Lancaster, dedicated to No. 419 [Moose] Squadron by the factory workers at Malton, Ontario. Shot down 14/15 January 1945, on her 29th operation to bomb Merseberg, Leuna synthetic oil complex, six of her crew survived as P.O.W.s. This most famous Lancaster code VR-W was replaced by KB851, flown by F/L A.G.R. Warner J12477 on 4/5 February 1945, when ninety-seven aircraft bombed Osterfield, Germany.

The third operation for KB851 took place on 13/14 February 1945, and the pilot was Wing Commander Malcolm Elroy Ferguson C1579. He served as Commanding Officer of No. 419 [Moose] Squadron from 26 January until 6 August 1945, and Lancaster KB851 became his “Baby” named after his baby daughter back home at 241 Shepard St. Sarnia, Ontario. The Wing Commander flew twenty operations in WWII [136:25 Hrs.] and eleven of those trips were in his Lancaster called “The Captain’s Baby.” On 10 June 1945, W/C Ferguson flew his “Baby” back to Canada landing at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, then proceeded on 35 days leave beginning 13 June 1945. With the end of the war [Japanese surrender] KB851 was flown to RCAF Station Delbert, Nova Scotia, on 8 September 1945 by Pilot Officer Connally, one hour and 2 minutes’ flight. Arrived at Pearce, Alberta, 23 September 1945, then placed into long-term storage.

KB851 was taken from storage in summer of 1951 and flown to Trenton, Ontario, then placed into storage with a number of other veteran Lancaster aircraft. In 1957, KB848 [ex-WWII veteran No. 428 Sqn. “Fightin’ Pappy”] and No. 419 veteran KB851 “The Captain’s Baby” were selected for conversion to carry and test the RCAF Ryan KDA-4 Firebee recoverable drones. They were ferried to Fairey Aviation in Nova Scotia, and configured to carry, launch, and film the drone test aircraft, becoming 10DC [Drone Carrier] Lancaster aircraft. RCAF image below.

During the restoration at Fairey Aviation, someone realized the WWII RCAF nose art from KB851 should be saved, and today the original is in storage at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. I saw it in 2004, and after over fifty years of research believe this is the only surviving RCAF Lancaster nose art from WWII. Miss Ferguson would be around 78 years of age today.

Today [2019] the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa have the original complete nose and cockpit of KB848, which flew 26 operations with No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron as NA-G. And across the street [figure of speech] at the War Museum in Ottawa, they have the original nose art from No. 419 [Moose] Squadron VR-W, “The Captain’s Baby” which flew 25 operations in WWII. These were the only two Lancaster aircraft to test the RCAF Ryan Firebee Drones, which continued until 1961. That is why they were saved, as someone at last understood they might be important to RCAF historical past. This is rare Canadian RCAF history, but our WWII historians and bureaucrats in Ottawa have to get ‘their’ heads together, digest, and display.

The very first southern Alberta wet snowfall began on 22 September 1945, and it came down all day long. This caused the delay of the arrival of the very last thirty Lancaster bombers from No. 405 and 408 Squadrons [No. 664 Wing] of Tiger Force. They arrived on 23 and 24 September and the total came to at least 121 veteran RCAF bombers delivered to Pearce from Nova Scotia. This image [below] was taken on 1 October 1945, when “Indian Summer” arrived and the snow was beginning to melt. The rows of Lancaster aircraft are slowly starting to decline in numbers as ferry pilots arrive to fly them to other RCAF Stations around southern Alberta.

When I interviewed Raymond Wise, he was very firm in the number of Lancaster bomber engines he started each and every morning, being from eighty-three aircraft. No. 102 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, Pearce, Alberta, was formed 21 January 1945, and came under control of No. 1 R.E.M.U. in Lethbridge, Alberta. The Lethbridge Daily Diary gives the correct number of Lancaster bombers and date of arrival at Pearce.

Thirty Lancaster aircraft arrived on 8 and 9 September, [No. 419 and 428 Squadrons] followed by thirty more on 13 September, [No. 431 and 434 Squadrons] thirty-one arrived on 14 September [No. 420 and 425 Squadrons] and the last thirty arrived 23 September 1945, [No. 405 and 408 Squadrons]. At least 121 RCAF veteran World War Two Lancaster bombers were flown to Pearce, Alberta, where they remained for a few short weeks. RCAF ferry crews next arrived by Avro Anson and Boeing model 247D transport, then the bombers were flown to other RCAF Stations in Alberta, and placed into long-term storage.

Ray Wise photo mid-September 1945.

Ray Wise photographed this rare Boeing model 247D ferry crew transport aircraft at Pearce in September. The RCAF received eight of these aircraft beginning 18 June 1940, and two were assigned No. 121 Squadron Composite Unit at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, serial 7635 and 7636. Six other aircraft flew with No. 12 Communications Squadron, RCAF Rockcliffe, serial 7637, 7638, 7639, 7655, 7839, and 7840. Today one of these aircraft is preserved in our Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, ex-RCAF 7638, Boeing construction number 1699, registration NC13318, converted to a 247D aircraft for the RCAF on 13 July 1935. One of only four in the world, the Canadian 247D in Ottawa was donated in 1967, by an Alberta Oil Company. RCAF records show all eight were taken off strength by RCAF on 2 December 1942, yet here is one still flying at Pearce, Alberta, in September 1945. This could possibly be the one in the Ray Wise photo, if it was sold postwar to the Alberta Oil Company.

Ray also photographed one of the Avro Anson Mk. II aircraft used to fly in ferry crews for the Lancaster bombers. Serial FP770 she was taken on charge by RCAF on 8 October 1942, and off charge 22 September 1946, with total flying hours 1491:10. The tail markings showing this Anson possibly flew with No. 2 Air Training Command during her wartime training days.

This is Canadian built Mosquito KB428 at Pearce in late September 1945. Constructed 20 July 1944, taken on charge by RCAF 14 September 44, assigned to No. 1 Winter Experimental Training Flight at Gimli, Manitoba, where it flew until 22 September 1945. On 22 September, No. 1 W.E.T.F. was disbanded and reformed 1 October 1945, as Winter Experimental Establishment, at RCAF Namao, North Edmonton, Alberta. The Mosquito was flown at W.E.E. as a pilot trainer, and for winter testing, until her last test flight on 6 March 1946, then placed into storage at Namao. On 9 July 1946, Mosquito KB428 became an instructional airframe #A516, struck off charge by RCAF on 27 February 1950.

These two images came from Peter Whitfield collection and they show eight of seventeen Lancaster’s remained outdoors at Pearce December 1945. KB746 VR-S “Sierra Sue” arrived on 8 September and was still parked out in the winter cold four months later. The Daily Diary reports eight inches of snow fell on Pearce, Alberta, 10 December 1945, and that seems to match these two photos.

The last long-term storage of 120 Lancaster veteran bombers in Alberta was completed by the end of January 1946, and the hangar doors were locked.
In total seventeen known Lancaster aircraft were placed into long-term storage at Pearce, Alberta, and thirteen were RCAF WWII combat veterans.
KB746 No. 419 Squadron VR-S “Sierra Sue” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB757 No. 428 Squadron NA-C off charge 16 January 1947.
KB760 No. 428 Squadron NA-P “P for Panic” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB794 No. 428 Squadron NA-W off charge 16 January 1947.
KB843 No. 428 Squadron NA-D “Dolly” off charge 13 May 1947.
KB864 No. 428 Squadron NA-S “Sugar’s Blues” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB867 No. 428 Squadron NA-L “L for Lanky” off charge 15 April 1948.
KB881 No. 419 Squadron VR-C “Chopper” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB910 No. 420 Squadron PT-V “Virgin Vickie” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB916 No. 425 Squadron KW-C off charge 30 January 1952.
KB930 No. 425 Squadron KW-N “The Night Mare” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB932 No. 420 Squadron PT-O “Oozy Oscar” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB933 No. 420 Squadron PT-J “Jumpin’ Jupitor” off charge 16 January 1947.
KB940 No. 32 M.U. Postwar 10MR off charge 27 January 1948.
KB969 No. 5 M.U. Postwar 10BR off charge 16 January 1947.
KB982 No. 32 M.U. off charge 16 January 1947.
KB984 No. 32 M.U. Postwar 10BR off charge 16 January 1947.

In January 1947, the Canadian Liberal government decided the Lancaster veteran bombers were no longer needed and Crown War Assets were directed to sell them off to the public, along with spare parts and new Packard engines.

A wealthy Alberta rancher from High River saw the chance to make some easy cash, and purchased 44 old WWII Lancaster aircraft at $250 per airframe. Mr. Albert Hoving purchased fourteen Lancaster aircraft from Pearce, and another thirty which were flown to the abandoned airport at High River, Alberta. He planned to scrap the bombers and sell the aluminum for pots and pans, but the Soviet Union would change his plans. Twenty new American Packard Merlin engines in their containers, and tons of spare parts were also purchased from Crown War Assets and placed into storage at High River, Alberta.

In 1948, the two Found Brothers from Malton, Ontario, formed “Found Brothers Aviation” and began the design of a Canadian four-seat monoplane which was registered as Found FBA-1. By 1950, the Canadian Government realized they required a four-engine long range patrol aircraft to provide Soviet anti-submarine and maritime surveillance of the vast Canadian coastline. Suddenly the veteran Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X would enjoy an entire second life protecting Canada, but first the Canadian Government had to buy back the veteran bombers, engines, and spare parts they had sold [given away] just three years before. The Found Brothers received a Liberal party political leak of the buy-back scheme, obtained a line of credit from their local bank, and then hopped on a train for Calgary, Alberta. This story research was all received from Bud Found himself in a phone call and in letters I wrote to him in 1980s. The Found Brothers located fifty ex-Lancaster RCAF bombers in Alberta and purchased 49 at $800 to $1,000 per airframe, including the 44 owned by Albert Hoving and stored at Pearce and High River, Alberta. They also purchased twenty Packard Merlin engines and all the RCAF spare parts stored at High River. Original photo by Bud Found winter 1950, High River, Alberta.

The Found Brothers then re-sold the 49 Lancaster bombers back to the Canadian Government at market value of $10,000 per airframe. The twenty Packard engines and spare parts were also sold back to the Canadian Government at market value, and the found Brothers received a cheque for almost $600,000.00 Canadian dollars. The profit from this sale financed the production of twenty-six Found FBA-2C aircraft. The company went out of business in July 1968 and today one original Found FBA-2C can be found in our Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, but you won’t find this history beside it. Thanks to our Canadian government screw-up, the poor old taxpayer financed the Found Brothers twenty-six new bush planes, which never became an aviation success.

The RCAF was now left with the job of flying this collection of veteran bombers from Alberta back to Trenton, Ontario. These RCAF bombers had been sitting inside an RCAF hangar [or outside] in Alberta for four and one-half years, now they must be made airworthy.

Ferry trips to RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, and then on to Malton for modification was explained in emails received from ex-LAC Fred Monteith, pictured in the rear door of KB937, No. 420 [Snowy Owl] Squadron PT-G, “Gallopin Gus” at No. 10 Repair Depot, Calgary, Alberta, 3 May 1951. Photo – F. Monteith.

This new Lancaster carried WWII nose art but she never flew operations during the war. KB937 arrived at Pearce, Alberta, 14 September 1945, and was placed into long-term storage at Claresholm, Alberta, until March 1951. KB937 was one of seventy-four Lancaster’s modified for a Maritime Reconnaissance/Patrol aircraft and flew until 2 June 1960.

Of the 288 Lancaster Mk. X’s which returned to Canada, over 100 would be modified to nine different versions for postwar service in the RCAF. Most [74] were modified as Mk. 10-MR for Maritime Reconnaissance duties, thirteen became Mk. 10-BR for Bomber Reconnaissance duties, eleven were modified to Mk. 10-P for Photo survey duties, eight became Search and Rescue aircraft, three became navigational trainers, one became the Orenda engine test aircraft and two became Mk. 10-DC for wing launch Firebee drones.
Beginning in 1946, the majority of Lancaster modifications came from the late production FM series of which only five were assigned to active RCAF squadrons in 1945. In the spring of 1951 [No. 404 squadron was formed] and they required many of the older veteran KB series Lancaster “X” aircraft for modification. The RCAF operational postwar use of the Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X’s fell into four main squadrons:
No. 404 based at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 30 April 1951, flew maritime reconnaissance duties until March 1955, then they began to convert to American Lockheed Neptune’s [March 55 to 1960].

No. 405 based at Greenwood, Nova Scotia, was formed on 31 March 1950 and flew maritime reconnaissance until March 1955, then converted to American Lockheed Neptune’s [March 55 to 1958].
No. 407 based at Comox, B. C., formed 1 July 1952, flew maritime reconnaissance until May 1958, then converted to American Neptune’s.
No. 408 formed at Rockcliffe, Ontario, 10 January 1949 for photographic duties until March 1964.
In February and March 1951, over one-hundred of the KB series Lancaster Mk. Xs were pulled from their long-term storage hangars in Alberta and prepared for the short flight to RCAF Station Fort McLeod, where all were given minor pre-fight maintenance.

This image shows KB972 No. 408 Squadron EQ-C “Cuddles” at Fort McLeod, Alberta and beside her is No. 420 Squadron PT-Q Lancaster KB901, which had been in long-term storage at Claresholm, Alberta.

Lancaster KB972 was originally assigned to No. 428 [Ghost] Squadron in England as NA-I, but the war ended before she could fly any operations. Re-assigned to No. 408 [Goose] Squadron for the return flight to Canada, 18 June 1945. The nose art was painted on the aircraft in early May 1945, at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, England, by LAC Robert Douglas Sneddon from Calgary, Alberta, an airframe mechanic. The original painting was a nude lady on a case of booze, however the padre told Robert ‘She’s going home, get some clothing on her.’ All of his 408 squadron nose art paintings were recorded by fellow ground crew member LAC Laverne Thomas Adam Shearer, including “Cuddles.” She arrived at Pearce, 24 September 1945, and went into long-term storage at Claresholm until February 1951. After flight inspection at Fort McLeod, she was flown [with wheels down for safety] to No. 10 Repair Depot at Calgary, Alberta, where Cuddles received major overhaul for the next long two-day flight to Trenton, Ontario.

LAC Fred Monteith was a RCAF wireless operator in newly formed No. 404 [MR] Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron at Greenwood, Nova Scotia. On the same day the squadron was formed, 30 April 1951, he was ordered to become part of a ferry crew that would fly the Lancaster Mk. Xs from Calgary, Alberta, to Trenton, Ontario. These new ferry aircrews boarded a Dakota [C-47] aircraft in Greenwood and departed for Calgary on 31 April 1951, arriving at No. 10 Repair Depot in Calgary on 2 May, and “Cuddles” was waiting there to greet him. Fred took her photo, and later was informed another ferry crew would fly her to Trenton. Cuddles was converted to a Lancaster 10 MR and assigned to No. 407 Squadron, but she never arrived, the Lancaster was destroyed by fire on 30 January 1952.

No. 10 Repair Depot, Calgary, 2 May 1951, “Cuddles” is ready for her last trip to Trenton, Ontario. In the background is No. 420 [Snowy Owl] PT-E, KB871 “Take Yer Time I’m Easy.”

The pilot of Fred Monteith’s crew received orders to fly WWII veteran KB937, ex-No. 420 [Snowy Owl] squadron PT-G, which still contained the original nose art of “Gallopin’ Gus”, and they departed Calgary for Trenton on 3 May 1951. Photo – F. Monteith.

The trip to Trenton took two days and the crew had no radio contact with ground airport control stations. Fred Monteith was stationed in the nose of the Lancaster and carried a small hand held radio, which had a very short range of two miles. They flew at whatever altitude the pilot picked, around 3,000 to 5,000 feet and followed the railway tracks to each major city, then for a short time made radio contact with the airport control tower. It took one day to reach the airport at Fort William [today Thunder Bay] and then on to Trenton where they arrived on 4 May 51. Next came another ferry crew which ferried the bombers to AVRO [Canada] Malton, Ontario, for modification and return to postwar service.

Fred Monteith flew as radio operator in six Lancaster Mk X’s ferry flights which were delivered to Trenton, the last on 14 June 1951. Mk X Lancasters delivered to RCAF Trenton follow.
KB937, [Gallopin’ “Gus” became 10 MP served with No. 2 [M] Operational Training Unit,]
KB966, [New- became 10 MR, went to No. 405 Squadron]
KB871, [Take Yer Time I’m Easy], 10 MR went to No. 407 Squadron, 15 September 52]
KB857, [Ex-419 VR-N, became 10 MR went to No. 407 Squadron]
KB992, [New 10 MR – 2nd to arrive No. 407 Squadron, 21 July 52]
KB958 [New 10 MR – 1st to arrive No. 407 Squadron 9 July 52].

After modification at “Victory Aircraft” in Malton, now called A.V. Roe Canada Ltd., or just AVRO Canada, they were delivered back to Trenton by ferry crews and then flown to the new RCAF Squadrons.

In total 53 “KB” series serial numbers were modified and served as Mk. 10 variants in the postwar years 1950-1964. The Lancaster 10 [MR] Maritime Reconnaissance model, was produced in the largest number [74] and twenty-three were old veteran aircraft that flew during WWII.

Serial numbers KB857, 865, 871, 875, 914, 919, 929, 934, 940, 945, 948, 955, 956, 960, 964, 966, 972, 974, 977, 992, 995, 997, and 999.

The Lancaster 10 [MP] Maritime Patrol model, had seventeen KB series veteran bombers. Serial numbers KB883, 890,892, 901, 903, 904, 920,925, 937, 943, 946, 949, 957, 958, 959, 973 and 996.

The Lancaster 10 [N] Navigational Trainer was modified and six were sent to RCAF Navigational School at Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Only two were Lancaster veterans KB826 and KB986.

The Lancaster 10 [DC] Drone Carrier, modified two veterans KB848 [nose and cockpit survives today] and KB851 [original nose art “The Captain’s Baby” survives today].
The Lancaster 10 [SR] Search and Rescue flew three KB series veterans which appear officially as KB801 [S] KB944 [S] and KB961 [SR]. Lancaster KB944 survives today in the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, painted incorrectly as WWII veteran “P for Panic” KB760.

The Lancaster 10 [AR] Area Reconnaissance was conceived in March 1952, the major reason being the Canadian government concern over Russian ice stations at the North Pole and Soviet claim to sovereignty over the Canadian Arctic Islands. Three Lancaster 10 AR airframes were modified and two were WWII combat veterans KB839, and KB882. The third KB976 never flew operations. Today KB839 and KB882 are the only two surviving Canadian built Lancaster Mk. X aircraft which flew operations during World War Two.

The most obvious modification on the three Lancaster Mk. 10 [AR] aircraft became the 40 inch [101 cm] extension of the nose, which would house a AN/APS-42 navigational all-weather radar plus one camera. The aircraft would receive ten cameras, special electronic surveillance equipment plus an array of antennas and special long range fuel tanks in the old bomb bay.

Image from Herb Smale, KB839 “Daisy” flying in her postwar markings as MN839.

Image from Herb Smale shows the two most unique and important Canadian built Lancaster Mk X aircraft in the world today, as both survive. The top aircraft is ex-KB839 “Daisy” the most famous WWII Canadian built Lancaster to survive, with a total of 26 wartime operations flown from 28/29 January 1945 to 25 April 1945. The second is ex-KB882 which completed eleven operations between 12 March and 25 April 1945.
In March 1964, a “White Paper” was tabled in the House of Commons in Ottawa, P.M. Pierre Trudeau and his governing Liberal party were about to change Canada’s defence policy and the RCAF would become “Canadian Armed Forces.” In the same month and year, the Canadian built Lancaster 10 was retired from service with the RCAF. On 1 February 1968, the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act came into effect and the identity, records, and all RCAF achievements were laid to rest, the Royal Canadian Air Force was no more. The terms “Canadian Armed Forces” and “Canadian Forces” both became official and were painted on aircraft.

I have interviewed a good number of WWII RCAF veterans who retired with disgust over these actions from P.M. Trudeau and his governing Liberal party who destroyed our RCAF. Could the destruction of our last two WWII Lancaster aircraft be political?

The scrapping of Canada’s veteran KB series WWII combat flown bombers began in the mid-1950s and continued until only a few survived. From the total of 121 Lancaster Mk. X bombers flown to Pearce, Alberta, in September 1945, fifty-three would be modified and fly in the postwar era. By 1960, most of Canada’s veteran Lancaster bombers had been retired from service and scrapped. The RCAF in Ottawa failed to research, select for preservation, or protection, even one of their most famous veteran WWII bombers. Today [2019] Canada [as might be expected] has the largest collection of original Canadian built WWII Lancaster Mk. X aircraft in the world, with eight located in four provinces. Four in Ontario – KB882 [Trenton], KB944 [Ottawa], FM212 [Windsor], and the most famous in the world, FM213 flying in Hamilton. Alberta is next with two – FM136 in Calgary and FM159 in Nanton. Greenwood, Nova Scotia, has KB839 and Victoria, B.C. has FM104. From this handful of Lancaster survivors, only KB944 in Ottawa, was luckily found by our government in 1967, and donated to the present day Canadian Aviation and Space Museum. Sadly, KB944 still remains a poorly researched and incorrectly painted replica for past fifty-plus years.

The other Canadian Lancaster bombers all survive thanks to chance, when they were purchased by caring Canadian civilians for $800 to $1,300 each. Every surviving Canadian RCAF Lancaster also has a history to tell in the correct or incorrect markings each was painted in over the past 55 to 60 years. In the total number of eight surviving Lancaster aircraft today in Canada, not one is painted in their ‘original’ wartime or postwar RCAF markings, and each aircraft is in fact a “replica” aircraft. This can be expected and understood because the majority of Canadian small aviation museums are run by civilian volunteers, farmers, teachers, ex-military, who depend on government handouts, auctions, poker-nights, etc. and cannot hire air historians to properly research, advise, and paint aircraft correctly. They find a war hero, paint their aircraft and that’s about it.

When you read the definition for “Original” it means present or existing from the beginning, first or earliest, the original owner of something. The synonyms are: authentic, genuine, actual, real, true, bona fide, veritable, not copied, kosher, or master. All of the KB series of Lancaster bombers fall under this definition, and if you display, repaint, historically record or copy wrongly, they then become a replica of another original Lancaster aircraft. The most embarrassing paint job of all our Canadian RCAF Lancaster bombers is found in our “Canadian Smithsonian” the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. These experts are highly paid; however, they can’t paint our RCAF veterans Lancaster aircraft correctly, not even in replica markings.

This half-painted ‘replica’ is not even close to the original in colors, location of art, or replica in size, and that is where the most foreign visitors meet our Canadian built Lancaster bomber. The RCAF veterans from WWII called her the ‘fake Lancaster’ long before Mr. Trump used the term.

FM100 to FM229 were constructed at Victory Aircraft, Malton, Ontario, from April to August 1945. The last seventy aircraft [FM230 to FM300] were cancelled when the war ended. Only one Canadian Avro Lincoln B Mk. XV was constructed.

Five of Canada’s eight surviving Lancaster aircraft came from the FM series [above] bombers which never flew operations during WWII, and yet today, four are painted as a replica of WWII original bombers. Only five FM series Lancaster aircraft were assigned to RCAF Squadrons at the end of WWII. FM110 [R], FM115 [Z], FM120 [J] and FM122 [L] were assigned to No. 405 Squadron on 26 May 1945, for return to Canada, and preparation for “Tiger Force” and the Pacific war against Japan. Only one Lancaster Mk. X, FM122 contained any known WWII nose art painting, which was painted for the coming air war against Japan.

FM122 was painted with nude nose art at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, England between 26 May to 15 June 1945. Canadian Lancaster Mk. X, code LQ-L was named “The Lady Love” by her ferry crew, and LAC Robert Sneddon from Calgary, Alberta, completed the nude lady and the fifty operations flown in a previous British built Lancaster III [Special]. The RCAF Pathfinder squadron never flew a British bomber with code letter “L.” The nose proudly displays a Maple Leaf for the fact they flew with British No. 8 [Pathfinder] Squadron at Gransden Lodge, Beds, from 19 April 1943 until 25 May 1945. No. 405 Squadron was re-assigned back to No. 6 [RCAF] Group on 26 May 1945, taking on charge eighteen Canadian built Mk, X bombers, and returned to Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 21 June 1945. [Serial KB961 [A], KB964 [B], KB997 [C], KB965 [D], KB977 [E], KB973 [F], KB991 [G], KB967 [H], FM120 [J], FM122 [L], KB700 [Q], FM110 [R], KB945 [T], KB949 [U], KB957 [W], KB952 [X], KB959 [Y], and FM115 [Z].

A good number of old Hawker Siddeley Canada photos record at least thirty Lancaster bombers from the FM series were flown to Malton, Ontario, where the wings were removed and the fuselage covered by protective tarps. That is mostly likely where “The Lady Love” found herself parked until 1949, when she was modified into a Mk. 10 [P] photographic reconnaissance and assigned to No. 408 Squadron. By Christmas 1950, No. 408 had taken over the entire photo survey and reconnaissance role in the Canadian Arctic north. The squadron soon became involved in a host of miscellaneous duties, transport, gathering Russian air samples, mercy flights, and even search and rescue in the far north. The aerial photo-mapping of Canada began on 20 May 1944, conducted by No. 7 [Photographic] Wing, No. 13 [Photo] Squadron, which was originally created as an RCAF wartime experimental photo flight squadron. In October 1945, No. 13 [P] Squadron received two old veteran WWII Lancaster bombers from storage at Pearce, Alberta, for photo testing, KB884 [ex-No. 419 Squadron] and KB917 [ex-No. 420 Squadron]. This testing resulted in an RCAF order [August 1946] for Avro Canada to modify Lancaster FM212 as the prototype 10P Photographic Reconnaissance four-engine aircraft. On 1 April 1947, No. 13 [P] Squadron became RCAF No. 413 Aerial Photo Squadron and FM212 arrived 4 June 47, air-tested 21 June, and C-1 auto pilot installed 2 July 1947. FM212 became the work-horse and major test station for the future mapping of Canada. On 1 January 1948, No. 413 Aerial Survey Squadron were flying six 10P aircraft, FM212, FM214, FM215, FM216, FM217, and FM218. No. 408 Squadron was formed at Rockcliffe, Ontario, 10 January 1950, and was originally created to share the photo survey work with No. 413 Squadron. On 1 November 1950, No. 413 Aerial Survey was disbanded and No. 408 took over the photo/recon role. FM212 [today survives in Windsor, Ontario] was the first RCAF prototype 10P model, flying and mapping Canada from 3 July 1947 until the Lancaster was retired in 1964. Rare Canadian RCAF cultural aviation heritage history. For this very reason, the RCAF Senior Officers picked Lancaster FM212 to fly the very last official symbolic flight of a Lancaster Mk. X aircraft in Canada, 11 March 1964. Once again, another RCAF historic making aircraft was saved by civilians from the City of Windsor in 1964, however it has never been painted or displayed in its original correct heritage setting RCAF markings. Today it is being restored, preserved, and protected, [with very high professional workmanship] however it appears it will again be painted as a replica British built RAF Lancaster Mk. III, flying with No. 8 [Pathfinder] No. 405 Squadron. We already have one No. 405 Squadron British replica Lancaster Mk. III [Special] in Greenwood Military Aviation Museum painted on Canada’s most famous “ORIGINAL” combat flown Lancaster Mk. X, “Daisy” and a third British Lancaster replica at “Canada’s Bomber Command Museum at Nanton, Alberta.”

Epilogue

Aircraft restoration refers to the treatment procedures which will return an aircraft into a known or assumed original state, often using non-original material as replacement for damaged or missing parts. I am happy to report Canadian Lancaster restoration has today reached its highest peak, after sixty-five years of neglect and improper care of our eight surviving Canadian built Mk, X bombers. The second and clearly most important part of aircraft restoration is conservation, the profession devoted to the preservation of our “Canadian” cultural property for all future Canadians to see and become educated in our RCAF past. Conservation also includes stabilization, examination, and treatment intended to maintain the integrity of an original aircraft and prevent deterioration of the airframe body. Canada’s most famous surviving veteran WWII Lancaster Mk. X, “DAISY” KB839, remains out in the rain and snow at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia, a military operated RCAF museum, where she was painted replica as a British RAF Lancaster Mk. III. How can these members wear a poppy on 11 November?

You would think [expect] one or two Senior RCAF Officers in Ottawa would want to save, and correctly paint this rare part of ‘their’ own roots, heritage, and veteran combat Lancaster which flew 26 combat operations in World War Two. No, silence of the lambs. While the RCAF in Nova Scotia have done an excellent job in destroying our last rare RCAF WWII Lancaster “Daisy” and not preserved Canadian culture history, the exact opposite is taking place on the west coast of Canada.

The history of Lancaster FM104 can be found on many websites and need not be repeated, most of all the City of Toronto rejection of their Lancaster Mk. X bomber. Thanks to the City of Toronto, a rare RCAF cultural gem has been saved and will be restored to flying condition by the B.C. Aviation Museum at North Saanich, British Columbia. Please go online and enjoy what is being preserved for all Canadians, and a very first for Canada. FM104 is the oldest surviving Canadian built Lancaster from the “FM” series, but much more important is the fact FM104 will become the only “ORIGINAL” flying Lancaster Mk. 10MR in the world, when restoration is completed. The B.C. Aviation Museum [volunteer civilians again] are restoring, preserving, and saving an RCAF cultural aircraft, which flew from CFB Comox, B.C., for twenty years. If you want to make a wise donation to save CANADIAN CULTURE, send a cheque to North Saanich, B.C., they know what they are doing.

At present time [2019] not one of our surviving other seven Canadian Lancaster aircraft are preserved and painted correctly in their ‘original’ RCAF markings, in fact the other seven bombers are all replica aircraft. I have no problem with painting replica aircraft provided they are painted correctly, and preserve “Canadian” culture. At present Canadians have four Lancaster Mk. X aircraft on display in Canada, and not one is correctly painted as a true replica aircraft. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Their National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world and each one is painted in 100% correct markings. If our Canadian Museums want to become the best, you must please attempt to meet the standards set by the American Smithsonian Institution. Canadian museums still have a long, long, way to go in learning and painting their Lancaster aircraft correctly.

FM136 Calgary – painted replica incorrectly, RCAF for Ronnie Jenkins.

WL-O serial # KB-895, 434 Squadron. (Photo courtesy – Clarence Simonsen)

FM159 Nanton – painted replica RAF, wearing incorrect nose painting Victoria Cross.

FM212 Windsor – painted [unknown] replica RAF. Please don’t put that “Old Penny” on her nose, that’s not correct WWII replica.

FM213 Hamilton – painted replica RCAF, flies with original WWII centre-section. [Carries incorrect nose painting of Victoria Cross art]

KB839 Greenwood – painted replica correctly RAF [Canada’s most famous WWII combat veteran 26 operations] WWII Heritage destroyed by modern RCAF museum.

KB882 Trenton – under restoration, will be painted correctly as RCAF post war. [Canada’s second combat veteran WWII Lancaster, eleven operations] WWII Heritage destroyed by modern RCAF museum, and home of RCAF.

KB944 Ottawa – painted replica RCAF incorrectly for past fifty years. If painted properly, [King of the Air] would become an original RCAF Lancaster.

This history is dedicated to J24764 F/L Peter H. Tulk, pilot of KB839 “Daisy”

Rest in Peace Daisy