Wellington nose art mystery
11th November 2008
Recently donated by the Sanders family to The Sywell Aviation Museum
is this very rare piece of Wellington Bomber nose art - the museum
is looking for help to identify the machine it came from.
All that is known is that this Wellington was sent to Brooklands Aviation
at Sywell in 1941 (so presumably an early mark) during which time
David Sanders (then 17) was working in the repair shop. The aircraft
had been badly shot up and it was Struck Off Charge - but beforehand,
David removed the nose art for safekeeping and after hanging on his
garage wall for 60 years it was donated by his family in his memory -
and 'returned' to Sywell! The artwork depicts 'Eugene the Jeep' a
mythical creature from the Popeye cartoons - indeed the Wellington
was nicknamed the Wimpey after J Wellington Wimpey another Popeye
character - so it was very appropriate!
Any help and information gratefully received to sywellaviationmuseum@gmail.com.
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