Do you Recognise this Bomber Crew?

[grandarog]

Hello All,
             Thought I ought to share this photo with you all in case anyone has connections to the Crew.
              I know nothing about them except My Godfather, Sid Andrews is the Sgt Air Gunner 2nd Left.
     I  presume the 7 signatures on the photo are the rest of the Air crew. (plus the dog Nip.)
             I know all about Sids WW1.history when he was Air Mechanic 19405 S.C.Andrews RFC/RAF.
He was afounder member of 70 Squadron RFC.Collecting One and Half Strutter Aircraft from the RNAS at Farnborough in 1916 and staying with the sqdn. in France during the war finishing up in Germany at Bickendorf with Sopwith Snipes.

       However he must have had a terrible time in  WW2 as he bluntly and absolutely refused to say anything about what he did after he re-enlisted in the RAF. Whenever he was asked he would only ever reply "You dont want to Know",his wife was no more forthcoming even if she new.

       The only definite Signature is S.Allen I wouldnt like to surmise on the others except the dog "NIP". Unfortunately apart from the Braying Donky Noseart there is nothing to identify Sqdn etc.

         The aircraft looks like an early Mark Lanc to me but I willingly stand corrected by any experts on a/c Recce. I note that Sid is not wearing his Pip ,Sqeak and Wifred on his Blue.3 of the Officers are wearing a single ribbon ,(Maybe AFC or DFC at a guess)Cant make out if it is diagonal striped .
                                                                        Best Wishes Rog.

      PS:-  I hope the Photo is OK I tried to attach at a High res, But system threw me out.
   
       


               

[annsa]

Hi Rog,

I would try posting a request for help on the general queries board at:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=127
You won't be able to post the photo, but will be able to put a link to it.

You may find that someone can identify the lanc from the nose art. I assume that you don't know the squadron? Anyway, I am sure that someone will be able to help you, they are a very helpful lot.

Regards,

Ann

[Flakdodger]

Hello Rog,
just a bit of rivet counting. From the lack of IFF aerials this looks like an earlier Lanc, maybe 1942/44. I have recently been through my Lancaster literature for another thread, and regretfully, the nose art does ring any bells.
Having said that - nose art was not the norm on WW2 RAF aeroplanes.
Dave

[grandarog]

Thanks Ann and Dave,
                  As I said Dave,I thought it was an early Lancaster as it has the thin props of the early Merlins. I never thought about the IFF antenna .
I believe vision blisters appeared on the later mk canopies as well.

     You assume right Ann,I said I didnt Know anything of Sqdn or other details on first post. It doesn't appear to have any Mission tally marks under the Canopy that I can see either ..
    The Braying Donkey may have been chalked on just for the Photo ,who Knows! I have at your suggestion posted on The Commands board and Also on the BBC family history board.
    My User name is the same on Both if you want to follow. Hopefully any interested people will post on here once they have followed the link.
                                     Thanks again for your help,
                                                                Regards Rog.
                 

[grandarog]

Hopefully this will make names easier to see. Rog

[David Layne]

I have posted your request in the Lancaster Archive forum under "Unidentified Crew"  I wish you luck and will follow the threads with interest.

http://lancaster-archive.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

[liverpool annie]

Hi Rog !

I'm wondering if this maybe the EC? Wood ! .... not too hot on the Air Force ... but thought I would post anyways !

Annie 

Name -   WOOD, ERIC IAN CAMPBELL
Initials -   E I C
Nationality -   United Kingdom
Rank -   Sergeant (Obs.)
Regiment/Service -   Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text -   12 Sqdn.
Date of Death -   09/03/1942
Service No -   918372
Casualty Type -   Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference -   1. E. 11.
Cemetery -   UDEN WAR CEMETERY

Then I'm wondering if one of the signatures is W Bray ....... ( maybe the reason for the nose art !! ) there are 2 W Brays on CWGC ... both Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve but different squadrons and different dates of death ...... !! just thought I'd mention it !

Now I look at it again ... it looks more like Gray .... and there's a Simpson there also !

[Thudnut]

Is there anyone who can weave their photo manipulation magic and completely 'isolate' the signatures?

Thudders

[grandarog]

Hi Thudders,
                   I have just tried to put the Signatures file on th Photo Retorsation board ,but therer is aproblem uploading art the moment will try again later,
                        Thanks for your and others Help ,
                                                                         Lovely people ,
                                                                             Regards Rog