AA37210 Handley Page Halifax MkV 'London's Revenge / L for Lana' - RCAF No.427 Sqn - RAF Leeming

With Bomber Command operations intensifying considerably towards the latter end of the Second World War, attempts were made to both boost the morale of aircrews engaged in this dangerous work and raise the profile of the herculean effort they were contributing towards eventual Allied victory. 

One such attempt involved the men and machines of No.427 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force, who christened the unit ‘The Lion Squadron’, and invited the film company Metro Goldwyn Mayer to adopt them – their famous lion was shown at the beginning of their movies. 

In a high profile event, which was covered by a national film unit, the managing director of MGM (UK) Mr Samuel Eckman Jr. accepted the invitation and presented the squadron with an impressive bronze lion for luck, also giving smaller versions of the lion to all members of the unit’s air and ground staff, along with the offer of free entry into MGM studios. 

For the crews, the most interesting aspect of the day was a draw to see which MGM star individual crews would draw, with their name to be carried on the side of their bomber. Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DK186 / ZL-L was already named ‘London’s Revenge’, but was further embellished with distinctive flying lion artwork (based on the MGM logo), and subsequently drew the most sought after star, Lana Turner – ‘L for Lana’, whose name they proudly took to war.