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____________________________________________________________________________________________ Arthur Lloyd and the Canadian Lancaster bomber
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I was recently contacted by Clarence Simonsen who was involved in painting a replica of an RAF Lancaster's Nose Art for a surprise event dedicated to Bob Kerns, the original Navigator of the WW2 plane. The plane was named after an Arthur Lloyd song, Drink and Let's Have Another One.' Consequently I printed off a laser copy of the song sheet , signed it with a dedication to Bob, amd sent it off to be included in his surprise. Below is the information given to me about the whole event by Clarence. A very surprising Arthur Lloyd link indeed! I am a 59 year old Canadian and for the past 37 years I have researched, collected and repainted the subject of aircraft "Nose Art". My latest book on this subject - "RAF and RCAF Aircraft Nose Art in WW II" was published in England by Hikoki Publications www.hikokiwarplanes.com
I am painting a replica of RAF Lancaster Nose Art from No. 166 Squadron, serial LM550, AS-B, which had three Canadians on the original crew. The bomber completed a record 118 operations in World War Two, survived and was scrapped in May 1947. The Canadian pilot named his bomber "Let's Have Another" after the Arthur Lloyd song, and painted a large beer keg filling a beer mug. For each operation flown another beer mug was added to the nose, with a total of 118.
Right
- Bob Kerns at the event with The Nose Art on Lancaster BIII, serial
LM550, Code "AS-B" [for Beer] in August 1944, showing 30 Beer
Mugs. The first twelve operations were all night, [Dark yellow beer]
then one day Op. [white] then two night, one day, eleven night, followed
by one day and two night. The beer barrel was light brown, black hoops,
a yellow scroll and black lettering "Let's Have Another" The
Lancaster Mark III was one of 340 built between November 1942 and April
1944. Delivered to No. 166 Squadron it flew the first operation on 19
May 1944. Scrapped 15 May 1947.
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The crew of seven were four British and three Canadians. They began
Lancaster training on 4 November 1944 at Hemswell. Flew their first
operation on 17 May 44, and received their new Lancaster [serial LM550]
on 19 May 44. The bomber was given code letter "B" for Beer,
and the Canadian pilot [F/Sgt. James F. Dunlop] picked the name "Let's
Have Another" with the painting of a large Beer Keg. For each
operation a small beer mug was painted with a large white head of
beer foam. For every night flown operation the beer mug was dark yellow
and for each day trip the mug remained white.The beer barrel was light
brown and under was a yellow scroll with black letters "Let's
Have Another". The crew completed 22 operations in their bomber,
the last to bomb Wizierne on 20 July 1944. The Lancaster first A total of 7,374 Lancaster bombers were built in England, of this total only 35 reached or surpassed the 100 operational mark. Only 13 of these contained Nose Art. "Let's Have Another" ranked number sixth highest with 118 operations but was the highest operational Lancaster with Nose Art. (NB: In fact only 6944 Lancasters were built in England and the
remaining 430 (Mk.X's) were built in Canada by Victory Aircraft Ltd.)
Details kindly corrected by Bob Evans, Curator Nanton
Lancaster Society Air Museum) |
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Hi Matthew,
Above - Wayne Rostad, star of the popular CBC-TV
show called "On The Road Again", and Bob Kearns daughter,
Rose Balcon. Dear Matthew,
Above - Brig. General Gaston Cloutier, Canadian Armed Forcers, Bob Kerns, and Clarence Simonsen.
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The
event is a surprise for the original navigator [Bob Kerns] who is 92
years of age, and will be recorded and shown by CBC television in Canada.
The
event was a big hit with everyone, and a wonderful surprise to Bob
Kearns. As soon as the CBC finish putting the story together, they
will send me a copy. Then I will mail a copy to you. Over 500 people
attended the dinner, with special guest; Brigadier-General Gaston
E. Cloutier, CD, Director General Air Personnel, Air Staff at National
Defence Headquarters, plus the commanding officer of the R.A.F. stationed
in Calgary, Alberta. We have a large tank training area in southern
Alberta used year round by the British Army. Due to the large number
of flights the RAF have a base in Calgary, just like the WW II days.
I think he was impressed by the Arthur Lloyd story and your special
gift. Thanks for making this special for Bob Kearns. Clarence Simonsen.
