Very unusual aircraft badge

[Chris Boonzaier]

I am guessing this South African crew was stationed with or near the Americans ?

Came from this article....

[Mervyn Mitton]

Chris - no badge is shown . I think the plane is an American Liberator - we had two Squadrons in about 1943/44. The word

Bliksem on the motto - as you will know since you speak Afrikaans - is part of an expression - "Bliksem se Donner" - I may have

spelt that wrong. It's simple meaning is Thunder and Lightning - but it can be quite insulting.

The total of 113 bombing raids is quite amazing - one Squadron was used to support bombing raids into Eastern Europe and

with this total, the plane could well have been included. We had a number shotdown. Mervyn

[W McSwiggan]

Hi - the aircraft is a Martin B26 Marauder not a B24 Liberator. As to specific information beyond aircraft type - I have none.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thankyou for that information. We must have had at least one Squadron of Martins as I remember now reading about one lost

with crew during the Sicily landings. Mervyn

[mickey]

hi all the saaf had 100 b26 marauders delivered and eventually served with 5 saaf squadrons a saaf b26 was the last aircraft of this type to be lost in combat by any user in ww2 on the 4th of may 1945, saaf b26s initally operated in north africa and finished the war in the italian campaign dubbed the widowmaker due to its high wing loading and high landing speed early in its career went on to be a capable meduim bomber great photo of bliksem by the way the photo is a usaaf b26 i like the bomb aimer/nose gunner having a fag

[Mervyn Mitton]

Mickey - thankyou for posting that helpful infformation. However, I am curious why you say it is an USAAF plane ? The crew are

obbviously South African, wearing the airforce battle dress - and the slogan is an Afrikaans one . Best wishes for 2015. Mervyn

[mickey]

Hi Mervyn no the photo I posted is an American photo of a b26 chris boonzairs photo of Blicksem is south African airforce for sure