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"Semper Paratus" Remembering the "Badge crew" Lancaster B.1 - ED412 - EM-Q (12/13th July 1943) Crew of ED412 (Left to right) (Photos courtesy of Jim Wright, Drew MacIntyre and Mark Chandler) (Top row) Sgt Robert Wood- Flight Engineer- RAF(VR)- Age 21 F/S Ronald Oswald Charles ("Roc") Brett- RAAF- Age 27 Sgt James Arthur Spence- RAF(VR)- Age 21 Sgt Edward Higgins- Wireless Operator- RAF(VR)- Age 24 (Bottom row) Sgt Arthur Charles Wright- Observer (Air Bomber)- RAF(VR)- Age 32 P/O Horace Badge- Pilot- RAF(VR)- Age 20 Flt Lt Arthur Charles Jepps- Observer (Navigator)- RAF- Age 29 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone, With the exams over, and the summer months providing a brief period of time in which I can resume a spot of modelling, I have decided to have a go at starting this long term project. Many years ago I picked up a 1:72 Airfix BBMF Collection set and built the two Spitfires that came with it. However, I never got around to building the Lancaster. Over a period of years and through my family becoming interested in researching our family history, I became more aware of my great uncle Horace Badge. And over recent weeks I started to delve more into the events of the 12th and 13th of July 1943, and the loss of the crew of Lancaster ED412. At the end of this project I would like to have made a suitably accurate representation of Lancaster ED412 alongside a written collection of Horace Badge's life, his service in the RAF, and the loss of the Badge crew over Switzerland in 1943. The 207 Squadron RAF History site (linked here) has provided a comprehensive account of the events surrounding the events of that evening, and I would suggest that anyone interested have a read of their information first. Lancaster ED412 and its crew set off from RAF Langar at 22:35 on Monday 12th July 1943 on a night raid to attack Turin, Italy. ED412 carried a 4000lbs "Cookie" alongside incendiary munitions. Following a route that took them over Lake Annecy in France, the formation encountered poor weather and some 100 aircraft crossed over into Swiss territory. Whether ED412 was hit by Swiss anti aircraft fire, or whether the aircraft fell victim to the poor weather encountered that night, is still up for debate. Regardless of the cause, the aircraft was seen to break through the clouds North of Lake Geneva and circle twice, before finally impacting Le Grammont at approximately one o'clock in the morning on the 13th of July 1943. One day I would like to visit the area and see both Le Grammont and the CWGC cemetery of St Martin's in Vevey. In the meantime, however, we were able to visit the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln, and locate Horace Badge's name on their wall of names (a surprisingly moving experience, and a place which I will happily encourage you to visit if you're in the area). Based on this, you might be able to get a sense of why I want to model Lancaster ED412. As a tribute to the Badge crew, and in a larger part as a tribute to the crews of Bomber Command, some 57,000 of which would never return from operations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Build Based on the documentation that has been unearthed regarding ED412, I intend to model the aircraft on the ground at RAF Langar as she would have been before her final mission. A variety of aftermarket additions will be added, including (but not limited to): -Eduard photo-etch interior -Kits-World lettering decals -Quickboost gun barrels -Quickboost air intakes -Eduard resin wheels -AIM (Transport Wings) crew ladder -Eduard canopy masks -Kits-World seatbelts -CMK engine -Belcher Bits small bomb containers (SBC's) -Airfix bomber resupply set I am currently aiming to have the crew door open, with one engine being worked on (cowlings removed), with part of the payload on it relevant trolley, and (maybe) the crew members waiting nearby prior to boarding. We will see how it goes but first things first is the Lancaster. For the exterior of the Lancaster I would like to use the technique used by "viper_models" on Instagram (an example of whose technique can be seen here)- this seems to involve making lines of rivets and then filling in the panels with Mr Surfacer to create a stressed skin appearance. While I appreciate this might not be an entirely authentic addition (especially for a Lancaster with relatively few flying hours) I feel that it would provide a nice visual addition to the aircraft. (For those following along with the Midlands Air Ambulance EC-135 build, I will be working alongside that at the same time!) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Photo courtesy of Jim Wright and the IBCC) "A few months before he was killed Badge stood in the Quad talking to us, chuckling at the unexpected destiny which has called him from his father's Devon farm: fit, solid, unperturbed, he grinned as he recounted awkward and dangerous incidents during his flying instruction in Canada and England. In his even tones there was not the mildest hint of swagger: as in his eyes there was no hint, no shadow fear: Devon stock this. He went away to fly a Stirling; and shortly after a great flight to Turin there came the news that his aircraft, and another, had crashed near Vevey in Switzerland. He and his crew lie buried on a hill above the old church of Saint Martin that looks out over the Lake of Geneva. He was at Shebbear from 1937-1941, finishing in the Sixth; he served Shebbear faithfully, as librarian, a cadet in the A.T.C., member of the 1st XV, and not least as a member of the choir whose playing of the violin we remember. Throughout his training in the R.A.F. he kept in touch with Shebbear, though so keen about his work that the days were hardly long enough: "Although it is time for bed," he wrote, "I still have some more work to do, so I must close this letter." It was hard to believe that so much life was quenched." (Entry in the Shebbear College Roll of Honour booklet- With thanks to Amy Bernstone and Andy Bryan). So until next time, thank you ever so much for reading and following along. Best wishes, Sam "We have loved him in life, let us not forget him in death" -Epitaph of Horace Badge