Bent aircraft, Egypt? WWII

[jolihokistix]

This grainy photograph was among a pile left by my father, ex-RAF. There is no indication of what, when or where, but he may be the one standing in front of it. He flew fighters and much later on was a navigator on bombers.

Regardless of all that, does it ring a bell with anyone, or is there anything that can be picked up from this rather featureless photograph?

(Thank you for looking. Not expecting miracles, but if one does not ask…)
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1087/3835d591_6526_462c_a021_c6f37a459ec2_5abf80e5a4b5437b3715a72 7404f99d0deda3d6e.jpeg

[treadigraph]

Well, it's a Douglas Boston - that's about all I can offer! Looks like an RAF fin flash, so probably not a USAAF Havoc.

[sycamore]

It looks as if the u/c has just folded on the stbd.side; prop `seems` undamaged ,and no wild `skid-marks on the ground,which might indicate the engines weren`t running....maybe someone accidentally lifted the gear handle...?

[jolihokistix]

All good stuff! Many thanks!

[Beamr]

You may want to read this: Douglas Boston in RAF Service (http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_douglas_boston_RAF.html)

It gives you pretty good timelines on squadrons, theatres and years the Boston was used, so if you know your fathers tour dates, you can probably take a good educated guess on to which RAF squadron the aircraft might belong to. Then its just a matter of checking the individual squadron history.

[jolihokistix]

Thank you for the way forward, Beamr.

Actually I’ve just remembered he had some hairy times in Palestine too.

[Beamr]

No problem, I hope it helps, best of luck on your quest!

[megan]

Find it difficult to determine the different Mks but the RAF did operate Havocs and were named as such, 23 Squadron was one operator. Photograph seems to be a Boston III.

[oldpax]

Nosewheel steering?Offset to stbd,Cowl gills open and whats that round object under the stbd mainplane,taxi light?

[Jhieminga]

Cowl flaps open would be typical for landing/taxi (at a guess) and if it's anything like other bombers of that era, the nosewheel is most likely free castoring with a shimmy damper. So the nosewheel being turned may be the result of the main gear collapsing and the weight on it shifting. The object under the wing looks a lot like a landing light to me, this photo shows a (retractable) landing light in that location under the right wing: https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1800x1025/a_20_havoc_t30_rocket_launcher_full_6752c7678afa6b73a90312c4 e82ba4038327f669.jpg

[sycamore]

Looks like a bit of `art` graffiti on the side below the cockpit...don`t think it`s a window; might identify the Squadron/Flight...?

[Fournierf5]

if it helps. . . . mucking around with photoshop, the 'art' appears to be a Halloween ghost!! [imho!]

[jolihokistix]

Caspar?

I’d already edited and ‘improved’ the photo, but you can have the original if it helps.

[jolihokistix]

And Fournier, you may well be right!!!


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/779x1280/b0163cac_213f_440b_883e_efd417e81883_b622bc525c6eb5e530b5ea2 6773fd8c277b95aa1.jpeg

[Fareastdriver]

No doubt it would have come under the heading' Far too Difficult ' and be removed by the local scrap dealers.

[Beamr]

To me the closest squadron marking to the picture on the plane would 24th squadron S.A.A.F. (and I can't be absolutely sure for the grainines, but similarity is there). 24th had Bostons in North Africa and Italy from November 1941-December 1943. Would it match your fathers tour?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/131x136/squadron_insignia_573212cfa56571568417af1a2f53a9ac302c7b27.j pg

https://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/squadrons/29/24-squadron

also, heres a rather good picture of 24th S.A.A.F Boston with the squadron logo

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/736x534/b6822da084aab681f2cb7c2811551b91_south_african_air_force_wwi i_70a52169fd30ee205a8513843e6662f1b25fe22d.jpg

[Rory57]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7J_QZlI4xg&t=9s

[dduxbury310]

Just musing, but fact that the landing light (presume it had one under each wing) was in the lowered position preparatory to a night landing.

[gunggung]

looks similar to one I got down to Abu simple from Aswan a few years back 🙈

[jolihokistix]

Beamr, these fit well with stories he told about sleeping in a tent and the creatures like centipedes and mice that they had to contend with. Thank you for these interesting cameos. And the squadron marking! They have stirred up a nostalgic nest of memories. He mentioned flying low over the Nile once too.

[jolihokistix]

Nice informative clip, Rory. Sadly, I had never even heard of the Douglas Boston/Havoc. (He did go on to Lancasters later.)

[Fournierf5]

Beamr, these fit well with stories he told about sleeping in a tent and the creatures like centipedes and mice that they had to contend with. Thank you for these interesting cameos. And the squadron marking! They have stirred up a nostalgic nest of memories. He mentioned flying low over the Nile once too.

'Casper the Friendly Ghost' seems not to have been in the public domain until 1945 . . . a 'story' just putting a 'name' to a less than original image!! However this 'artwork' seems remarkably similar - a genie perhaps. Surely possible to track down by analysing RAF Boston Sqdns history etc!