This might be of further interest to members....
The names of the folks in the opening picture on this thread has been solved. Been a while, but I eventually got there, thanks to this book that came through the post today from ebay for £1.99 incl. p/p!
...and look what's on the back cover.
The players.
Left to right - Tommy Lucke, Vickers Test Pilot. Gordon Montgomery, Works Manager. Bernard Duncan, Superintendent and Miss Scott, a senior secretary. she cut the ribbon.
Of the £20,000 cost of the bomber, the Broughton work force raised £15,300. Vickers Ltd. providing the rest. pretty good going considering a worker's weekly wage at the time was around £2.10s.(£2.50)
This aircraft (R1333) crashed on Dec. 1940 during take off and never went on a bombing mission. It's replacement R1516, was given the same name, and was later lost on operations.
A few other facts I've gleaned during a flitting through the book....
5246 Wellington bombers were built at Broughton.
235 Lancasters, including the one still used with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. (PA474)
62 Mosquitos.
W R1296 was used in the film 'Target for Tonight' All the cast were the actual crew members going about their respective duties.
W L7818 was the aircraft New Zealander Sgt. James Allen Ward was flying in when he won a V.C. He
crawled out onto the wing of his Wellington to extinguish a fire, enabling the aircraft to return safely.
W L7788 crashed in Holland and was repaired by the Germans and flew again in Luftwaffe markings......
Finally.....
Through other channels of enquiry, I found out the Welsh Dragon flag seen on the side of the Broughton Wellington, was painted on by one Stan Richards of Bangor, N. Wales.
Under the flag is a motto.
'Gwae I Chwi Frenin Y Gwiberod' which translated means (I hope!) 'Dawn to the King of Squirrels' - I don't know why either!
If any of the above is wrong, don't blame me. I'm just the typist!
Thanks to those who contributed their help and useful information after I posted my initial enquiry. All much appreciated.
So there you go. I'm off to have me a proper read of the book.
Your Servant,
Lord Beaverbrook