GimmeAnF

Hi, MZ737 flew on plenty of other ops according to my Dad's logbook (so this was the Halifax I chose to model back in the 70s, using the old Airfix kit); not so many ops concerning PN365 in that logbook but of note: 6.12.44 Osnabruck marshalling yards; 18.12.44 Duisburg; 21.12.44 Cologne marshalling yards; 26.12.44 St Vith (Battle of the Bulge) "German strongpoint; hit by flak; diverted to Carnaby on return; FIDO" according to the logbook. The skipper in my dad's crew was the pilot, Lt Antoine Brion, not Barthelot (navigator). I've managed to fing my copy of Air Britain's Halifax File and it says: "PN365 Sold for scrap 14.3.47". A sad end...

What an outstanding result, Neil. I'm truly awed by such a masterpiece - and so proud that you chose one of my father's warhorses. It's also a very moving homage to him and the crew, and all those in 346 and 347 Squadrons who never made it back to Elvington or France. As in all other Bomber Command units I believe, half of them perished. I'm sure the Foures family will be just as delighted as I am when they see your photos.

What a beauty!!!

Hi Woody, As usual with your models, I'm quite impressed with the results so far. This is going to be a stunner! Thanks for your magnificent work, it's such a tribute to my Dad's crew. PS: Sad to say, the only surviving member of the crew, Roger Fourès (mid upper gunner) is poorly at the moment.

Hi Woody, What you have done so far is already quite impressive, to say the least! It's great to know you're modelling one of the Halifaxes my w/op dad flew in. I've no photos either of the crew together or the aircraft itself, and there was no fancy nose art on this one or any other they used 😕 - it would seem the skipper wasn't the fun-loving sort. He also refused to have another photo session when the only picture of the complete crew turned out to be blurry. BUT at least he was an excellent pilot and saved my dad's life + the lives of the other crew members of course on at least 2 occasions (in North Africa + on D-Day). I'll be back with more information on PN365 and the crew if this is of any interest to you and other modellers here. But I'll be using my laptop instead of my tiny smartphone ! 😉 Cheers!

I'm sure your French is better than my Italian (I wouldn't be able to read Italian publications). As for the aircraft my father flew in, the whole list would be very long and includes the Anson, Wellington, Proctor, Beech C-45 Expeditor, Dak (can't understand why I forgot that major type), Paris (jet communications hack), Alouette... He wasn't a pilot, but w/op and later navigator, so this may explain that long list? Or was this the norm at the time, for pilots as well?

Thanks Giorgio, it's nice to see someone take an interest in the French language these days! As for my father and models, I intended to have one of each aircraft that he flew in from 1940 to the 1960's (i.e. from the Potez 540, LéO451, Halifax, Invader right down to the Noratlas) but apart from the Halifax only had time to build one of "his" Toucans (French equivalent of the Ju-52 if you prefer) at the CIET (Centre d'Instruction des Equipages de Transport) at Toulouse (1950's). This was the Heller kit. I guess this could be a topic in itself: modelling the aircraft types flown by people you know!

Hi Andy, Thanks for sharing! I'd say the wingspan is approx. 7-8 inches (can't measure it myself because my son's got it right now), maybe a little less. Yes there's a hole in the bottom (sorry if this sounds rude!? ). I was recently told that the son of the French officer who was in charge of all ground personnel at Elvington has the same Halifax desktop model in mint condition and complete with its stand, so I'm trying to obtain more information. But so far he hasn't responded. If and when I get the info, I'll post it here. Cheers, Mike

Ok, so here goes if some of you want to see what the latest book looks like - again no English version but the photos and profiles are excellent and I'll ask the author if publishing it in English is planned: http://www.amazon.fr/Fran%C3%A7ais-dans-BO...3643&sr=1-1 Quite right about the English translation on the 346/347 Sqdns website. But I must say the fellow in charge (he's a friend of mine) is doing a tremendous job which takes up a lot of his time and energy.

Just tell me what needs translating and I'll do my best! Are we allowed on this forum to paste links to books on the subject that are available at Amazon.fr?????

Thanks, Procopius. I'm trying to obtain more information on that desktop model, but it's difficult to find.

Well, in those days (late 1960's, early 1970's) the Airfix moulds weren't too bad. I can remember getting all those Airfix kits at Woolworth's, in Liverpool, while I was on holiday there... I was going to tell you about that website, but you've already located it. If you (or anybody) need some help with translations, don't hesitate. And if you want more information on the specific Halifax you built, I could try and get it - but if you've done your homework on that as excellently as the modelling I won't have much to tell you about!

Incredible! To think this is the old Aifix kit is just fantastic - and proves an expert modeller can turn anything into a gem. Congratulations! Here's my own poor rendering of one of the Halifaxes my father flew in (H7°B as you can see - MZ737); it was built when I was a teenager. I remember spending a lot of time converting it into a Halifax with rounded wingtips (using balsa and a mixture of talcum powder + ???, as described in an issue of Airfix Magazine), only to discover recently (thanks to the surviving upper gunner) that it was not that sort! There's a (well-known?) photo of this specific aircraft to prove it. I also realise the wheels should have been flattened, the rivets got rid of, and the yellow on the letters and around the roundel is too wide. But that's the best I could do at the time! The decals, including those on the fins, were 'home made' (using Hannants stuff, if I remember well), and... no airbrush at the time.

Do you have any pictures of that model, please? Sadly I learned that the rear gunner in my father's crew (see log book), Roland Gonnot, died yesterday. This leaves the upper gunner, Roger Fourès, as the only surviving member. He's 92 and I go and see him as often I can (he only lives some 60 miles away), so he can tell me about life in wartime England and at Elvington. Roger and I had planned to visit Roland soon but this will never materialise.

Wow! Fantastic model! Could we have more details, please? What model did you use and what's the scale? How long dit it take etc.? Can I find this info here on Britmodeller pages? I must tell all my friends at Association des Groupes Lourds (French Heavy Bomber Groups Veterans Association) to have a look at this! And as soon as I find the time, I'll be posting a photo of my own efforts (a long, long time ago) with an Airfix model built as a 346 Sqdn Halifax. Cheers