If there was an early Moose squadron aircraft image still seen today more than any other it would have to be Z1572,
the Wellington which became one of four Wellingtons to wear the "VR-Q" code on her side. The photo here is one of
the few which clearly shows the Z1572 serial number. On the other photos the serial number is blurred, maybe by
wartime censors
or just a photographic error.
Across many reference sources for "Wellington" the image of Z1572 can be found, it pops up usually with the black and
white version of the port side.
This image is so popular that Corgi came out with their toy Wellington bomber wearing the VR-Q designation.
Many fine art representations of "Queenie" can be found as well.
Very rarely is the starboard side shown, although this blurred image most likely taken the same day as
the more popular port side photo, does exist.
Operational History
Wellington Z1572 first appears in the 419 Operations Record Book on May 30th 1942, flown by
P/O Jost
(later S/L Jost), the operation was part of "Operation Millennium" the 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne.
From May 30th to July 23rd "Queenie" was clearly Jost's aircraft, he and his crew flew 14 of the 18 operations
flown during that time. Two others flew it on operations, namely P/O Morris and F/S McGuffin.
There is no record on when or who selected the name "Queenie" and there is no indication of any nose art in the
photos
of Z1572. A safe bet would be that P/O Jost or his crew selected the name, since as mentioned it was they who
were on operations with "Queenie" more then anyone else.
Queenie Lost to Damages
On July 23rd while taking off on a raid on Duisberg the Wellington's port tire failed. P/O Jost managed to get the
aircraft airborne and continue on to the target. Which would indicate the tire failed as "Queenie" was under the
effects of lift on the wings and the tire's failure did not cause a mishap at take- off.
Jost returned to the airbase at just under four hours later. Squadron Commander W/C Fulton advised Jost to lower
the landing gear and when down to apply the brake on the starboard side hard, to counter the effect of the lost
port side tire. The advice worked and VR-Q landed without injury to the crew, although it was damaged by the port
propeller
hitting the ground. The action of the propeller hitting the ground also worked back to the port engine itself.
The damaged engine and props would send Z1572 away for repairs until October 6th.
The next VR-Q was serial number DF665, she had a short span with
419 Squadron. On August 29th with a brand new crew DF665 was on an operation to Saarbrucken and did not return.
It was almost a fore shadowing of the events to occur to the first Halifax VR-Qs to come.
It wasn't until October 6th that the squadron again had a "Q" in the Battle Order. As it happened Z1572 was returned
to service with 419 and was redesignated VR-Q. After it's return, VR-Q's crews did not include P/O Jost. The only two
crews to fly her were those of Sgt. Bell and Sgt. Jolley.
It is not clear if the name "Queenie" was still used on her return,
in any event Z1572 only flew another two operations with 419 Squadron, before being transferred to 427 Squadron.
Other VR-Q
Wellington Z1095 Mk1C February 16th 1942 to March 3rd 1942- Transferred out.
Wellington X3703 Mk1II March 25th 1942 to May 9th 1942- Lost over Warnemunde
Wellington Z1572 Mk1II May30th 1942 to July 23rd 1942- Damaged during landing
Wellington DF665 Mk1II August 6th 1942 to Aug 29th 1942- Lost over Saarbrucken
Wellington Z1572 Mk1II October 6th 1942 to October 15th 1942- Transferred to 427 Squadron
There is one article on Z1572 using the photo of VR-Q, reporting on the problems encountered by the crew
and the Wellington on the night of March 5/6 1943. By that date 419 Squadron were no longer flying Wellingtons
and so it would not have been Z1572 as VR-Q which ran into the difficulty.
Halifax JD459 "Queenie"
Once the change over to Halifax "heavies" was completed there were a series of VR-Q aircraft. The early months
of 1943 saw three VR-Q aircraft lost between February and April 28th. DT619, BB327 and JB923.
Not until the arrival of
JD459, which first appeared on ops. for the night of August 17/18 of 1943 that VR-Q showed she was in for the long
term. Although this VR-Q, JD459 did have it's hard times, as described below, it completed thirty-nine operations
before bad luck reached her.
JD459 acquired the name "Queenie",
when and my whom she
was assigned the name is not recorded. Unlike her previous name sake the crews who flew on her were many.
The crew of F/L Shackleton were the most frequent names to show up on the Battle Order for JD459.
There seems to have been no attempt to name her "Queenie II" , which could be related to the fact that most of the
crews now serving were not with the squadron when Z1572 was part of the 419 Squadron aircraft.
Unlike Z1572, this "Queenie" had her name painted for all to see on her nose section as well as Queenie her self
painted large and visible. Shown here with members of a crew as well as ground crew members showing 26 operations
completed on her side. The men in the photo maybe F/S McLeod's crew, McLeod had flown VR-Q on it's 26th operation
where
flak had
caused damage to port wing, the nacelle of port inner engine and the port outer oil tank had a hole punched in it.
First Combat Report - November 25/25 1943
On November 25/26 1943 with F/O Boe and crew over the target area at 19,500 feet at 02.48 on the morning
of November 26th they were attacked by an Me109 without the warning from their Monica radar system.
The enemy fighter was first seen silhouetted against the glow of the fires below, on the port quarter down at a range
of 500 yards. JD459 was on it's bombing run flying at a speed of only two hundred and nineteen mph. As the night
fighter
closed to 300 yards the rear gunner Sgt. H. Salkeld called for a combat manoeuver to port, just as the ME109 opened fire
with a two
second burst at the Halifax. Sgt.Salkeld replied with a long burst of 300 yards at the attacker, VR-Q continued for
three
corkscrews before the resume course was called as the gunner had lost sight of their attacker.
"Queenie' was not to escape the enemies attentions so easily, again from the port quarter an Me210 continued the
attack, positioning itself on the starboard quarter below at only 300 yards. This time Monica gave one pip and then
died again.
Corkscrew to starboard was ordered and again the attacking night fighter became lost to sight. The rear gunner did
fire
nor did the Me210 and soon the resume course order was given and they headed back to base.
Almost Ditched
Late January found "Queenie" over Berlin with W/C Pleasance at the controls. Halifax JD459 required precious extra petrol to
gain height
as the W/C decided to go in with the first wave, only to overshoot the target and have to re-enter the bomber stream
joining in
at the
end of the last wave. As they headed home the port outer engine failed. Their petrol supply was also getting seriously low.
As they came close the English coast heavy fog hampered their way. With ditching becoming a possibility the wireless
operator send out the days IFF on a wide pulse. With a stroke of luck the flare path to Woodbridge came into view as ditching seemed
the only option. With only 30 to 40 gallons of fuel left Pleasance landed "Queenie" safely.
Combat Report February 19/20 1944
While P/O Scade entered the target area on the night of February 19th/20th, coming in at a slow speed of just 196 mph
at
roughly 18,000 a Ju88 attacked from the port quarter up at approximately 500 yards off. The rear gunner Sgt. Lee
saw the fighter and called for corkscrew to port while he opened fire with just a short burst then as he attempted
a second
burst
the guns failed almost completely. With only one of the four barrels managing to get off 75 rounds before it too
jammed. The fighter broke of it's attack at 300 yards climbing off to the starboard side.
After many tense moments wondering if the attacker had noticed the lack of return fire from the bomber, and
would he come back to attack from astern while Lee's guns were still out of action. Eventually after much scanning of the
skies by both gunners and anyone else who could search the surrounding darkness the resume course command, Sgt. Lee
worked at clearing the jammed guns. The only way this can be done is
with a long wire like device working the mechanism to clear the jammed cartridges. All of which is done in the dark
at arms length. Sgt. Lee managed to clear the guns and was again scanning the skies for any fighters as they continued on to
their return to base.
"Queenie" meets the Same Fate As Z1572
The target for F/O Barclay and his crew was one of the large marshalling yards. "Queenie" had a heavy bomb
load on board and was assigned one of the shorter runways. The Halifax was unable to get enough lift to
clear a block house ( sometimes referred to other sources as a Pill Box) lying some distance from the end
of the runway. The rear wheel was ripped off and the bomb doors were badly damaged (or partly missing), the
force of the strike was enough to make the middle upper turret dome fly off. One of the 1,000 pounds on
board had the fin ripped off of it during the collision with the building. Fortunately the impact did not
cause the aircraft to spin into the ground.
The noted in the squadron log mention it was difficult for Barclay to climb above 800 feet but did
eventually gain the height of 1,500 feet and jettison the bombs out over the sea. Now he had to make an
emergency
landing back at the base. He and others did not know the extent of the damage to the Halifax. Barclay was
sure the undercarriage was damaged or the doors to them could have been jammed. So his only choice was to
perform a crash landing with the gear up.
As all the crew braced for the impact and possible fire the Halifax made it's way towards runway No.6. The
aircraft overshot the runway crossing over to the perimeter track where a Motor Transport was parked. The
heavy aircraft completely wrote off the truck, injuring the driver. The aircraft's impact helped slow
momentum then "Queenie" now also completely damaged beyond repair stopped and let her crew get out.
It was rough ride for the crews third time out for 419 Squadron. But they all survived and went on with
the squadron flying Lancasters until November when four of the crew were posted to "R" Depot. Their new
F/E Sgt. D.V. Askew -RAF continued on in his RAF career.
F/O Barclay's crew were:
Navigator F/O P Hackey
B/A F/O M. Green
F/E Sgt. R.A. Afford
WAG WOII D.S. Taylor
MU/G Sgt. J.R. Devon
R/G Sgt.D.L. Gibson
There were two changes to the crew before they completed the Tour F/O G.C. Gillespie replaced F/O Green as Bomb Aimer and Sgt. Askew became their F/E.