| Accession Number | OG2412 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Harrison, John Thomas |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
MOROTAI, HALMAHERA ISLANDS, NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. C. 1945-04. ALTHOUGH ITS "TEETH" ARE PAINTED ...
Description
MOROTAI, HALMAHERA ISLANDS, NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. C. 1945-04. ALTHOUGH ITS "TEETH" ARE PAINTED ON THE FUSELAGE TO RESEMBLE THE JAWS AND TEETH OF THE NOTORIOUS AUSTRALIAN GREY NURSE SHARK AFTER WHOM THE SQUADRON IS NAMED, THE ACTUAL "BITE" COMES FROM ITS CANNON, SHOWN BETWEEN TWO OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FOUR AIRSCREWS. NO. 457 (SPITFIRE) SQUADRON RAAF OPERATING IN THE SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC, FOLLOWS THE PRECEDENT SET BY THE FAMOUS FLYING TIGER AIRCRAFT OF CHINA AND THE KITTYHAWK SQUADRON OF THE MIDDLE EAST IN PAINTING AIRCRAFT TO APPEAR LIKE A SHARK'S NOSE.