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Showing results for tags 'Blue Noses'.
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I was born and grew up in Norfolk, surrounded by active and former air fields. RAF Watton was at the other end of the town and when I was tiny there were RAF Canberras flying out of there in the strike role. Nearby were many ex-USAAF airfields: Shipdham, North Pickenham, Wendling and Deopham Green were all within about 10 miles, and had had 8th Air Force bombers flying from them. Then, there was RAF Bodney. If you turned right at the front gate of the house I was born in and followed the road for about four miles, you came to the remains of RAF Bodney. From the road, you could see the old water tower and some concrete standings. If you took a chance on not getting caught, and had a wander, the control tower was there. By that time, the airfield had been largely turned back over to agriculture, the original use of the land before the war. During the war, the airfield was home to the three squadrons of the 352 Fighter Group, the 328, 486 and 487 Fighter Squadrons. The group had flown P-47's before trading them in for their P-51's, first B models and later D's. The Bowdlerised version of the unit's name is the "Blue Nosed Birds of Bodney". The actual name used by the officers and men among themselves replaced "Birds" with a word beginning with "B" denoting a rough, tough crew of unknown parentage. The nose colour is lighter than US Insignia Blue, but still a strong, dark shade. Research has identified it as RAF Deep Sky Blue, supplied by the RAF. This matches out to about Methuen 20E7. Airfix's P-51D will be the basis, and for markings I'm spoiled for choice, with Microscale, Eagle Cal and Eagle Strike all offering options. I'm currently toying with doing two builds: possibly two Bodney birds, or replacing one with a 359 FG aircraft. The 359 were based at RAF East Wretham (Station 133), and flew with green noses.