Beaufort Nose Art Id Sought, "What we see we take"

[Martin Edwards]

Gentleman we received this request from Garth Occy of the AWM
Can anybody identify the aircraft that wore this clever bit of nose art?

"Nose art from an unknown Beaufort of No.100 Squadron RAAF. . .likely Survey Flight of said unit. Any assistance with an identity of this aircraft and/or crew is gratefully accepted."

Photo source

Attached Image

[ozhawk40]

To my view, this pic does not look like it was part of a Beaufort.

Top Left round corner to window and close to the wing leading edge based on the rivet pattern on the right of the design. Doesn't match anything Beaufort to me. Looks like a smaller aircraft, but what?

[Brenden S]

How awesome is that image though in colour.

[enfield38]

Interesting that it's been painted onto what looks like linen, then doped onto the aircraft skin. Was this common practice for the RAAF?

[Martin Edwards]

Definitely not Lightning F.4

[JeffK]

Having a bit of time to spare in lockdown I thought to revisit this question. Added to this was the article in the latest Magazine which questions the accuracy of some "official" photos.

First was to decide what aircraft type it was, I trawled through the archives am fairly sure it is a Beaufort. I havent seen any Hudsons with the flat line for the underside camo, all seem to have scalloped edges. I would put in a possible for the Mitchell, early issues were camoflagued, but I dont know if they had Sky Blue undersides.

In the gallery there is a photo of A47-27/KO-A 2 Sqn which has a similar round material backed nose paint job! I havent seen anything similar, maybe a local custom??
http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Mitc...ell_A47_27_KO_A

:huh:

[JeffK]

Gday Shep,

I originally thought it was the wing root, but its far too low for that and too low for the ASV receiver. Another item is in the top left, too rounded for the Beaufort nose glass frames.

Cammo implies it is a Beaufort.

And I think its a Major Mitchell Cockatoo.

One day I'll get up to Moorabbin and check theirs.

[Brenden S]

I can confirm that is is not a DC-3
https://flic.kr/p/9YsEJq

[Brenden S]

Here is the Beau nose at YMMB
(IMG:https://live.staticflickr.com/564/22749575246_1c68e1b7de_b.jpg)DAP Beaufort by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

[JeffK]

Failed aircraft, I mean bird, recognition, how would I know between a Beaufort and an F111 :P

The only similar circular patch I have seen is on the B25 as mentioned, and I've looked at a lot of noses in the last week.

Might start looking at USAAF types as suggested.

[Brenden S]

I have asked Ash Briggs and he think it may be off a Hudson.

[Brenden S]

Well there you go. Perhaps from a crashed Jap plane?

[Warhawk]

Well...been thinking and looking.........sky under,..forest green top per demarcation lines.

Most RAAF F4s were wavy feathered... A55-3 seems wavy . But on examination....camera port is in same area,..and there appears to be a motif present......Fits the 1PRU comments,...also that curved fairing on right
I wonder????

Attached Image

[Warhawk]

Bigger is better

Gordy

Attached Image

[Warhawk]

Yeah,..better angle. We can eliminate that one. The original post has a nice sky finish higher ( or a motif,..lower) per the coloured snap shot..Scheme suggests (excluding the colourisation) sky and Foliage Green,..in a straight application/demarcation ......we may never find out......can't see it as a Hudson,..unless Survey Squadron's Hudsons,..but have no detailed pics and they were, I think,.overall green.

Have anyone researched P-43s per position???? maybe its rear of wing,.rather the otherway,..in front of wing???? Checking A56-3,..no.... Could be a PRU Buff???? nahhhh

I guess we have to narrow it down. List PRU/Survey Types in RAAF,....then examine rivets and structure paterns...seemingly a twin engine type,........then Paint scheme leaves only Hudson left,..but the demarcation scheme is too high and straight...for a Hudson ...we all ponder

[Warhawk]

Per lines....Lighter green are flushed ...
yellow is fairing

Thought for awhile it was maybe a B-17E per 435rd ..no

Still mystified

Attached Image

[ozhawk40]

The motto for the insignia is also obscure.

87 PRU Squadron Motto was: "We See and We Fight" (Wiki)

Doing a google of "What we see, we take" gets nada, apart from this forum entry. Seems to be an unofficial insignia. The motto may have a double meaning in that it is similar to the motto "76 the Hydraulic Squadron" and it may be a warning not to leave things lying about unattended! Just a thought. A parody of the squadron motto?

This post has been edited by ozhawk40 on Aug 29 2020, 03:37 PM

[JeffK]

Are we able to find the circumstance of the photo. All AWM photos have a serial number, in this case PO3522.003 which implies there were more photos on the film. I've had a look at the AWM Collection but havent found any associated numbers.

I picked up Song of the Beaufort , the 100 Sqn story from the Interlink and its an interesting story.

[ozhawk40]

Looks like we have a winner. Yes 87 Squadron had a "Survey Flight" that included Ansons. It was not part of 87 until 1948 as per Telegraph Vol 10 number 3



RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 87 Squadron Oct 39 - Oct 49

(IMG:https://i.imgur.com/EY4GxG4.jpg)

(IMG:https://i.imgur.com/Pnyt2VS.jpg)

This post has been edited by ozhawk40 on Aug 31 2020, 07:50 PM

[Brenden S]

The bump on the lower right looks like a cover for an aerial or antenna. Perhaps early radar/electronic mods? Were Ansons ever modified as such?