Own an extremely rare piece of World War II aviation history!
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The Westland Lysander, affectionately known as the "Lizzie," was an iconic British army co-operation and liaison aircraft that played a distinctive role immediately before and during the Second World War. Designed by Arthur Davenport under the direction of "Teddy" Petter at Westland Aircraft, the Lysander first flew on June 15, 1936. It was built to fulfill an Air Ministry specification calling for a tactical and artillery reconnaissance aircraft with exceptional short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities.
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The aircraft's unique design featured a high gull-like wing, a fixed conventional landing gear mounted on an innovative inverted U square-section tube, and fully automatic wing slats and slotted flaps. These aerodynamic refinements gave the Lysander a remarkably low stalling speed of only 65 mph, allowing it to operate from small, unimproved fields. While it initially equipped squadrons for army co-operation and artillery spotting, the Lysander's vulnerability to modern fighters like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 became apparent during the Battle of France in 1940, leading to severe losses.
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However, the Lysander found its true calling later in the war. Its exceptional STOL performance made it the perfect aircraft for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Painted matte black, Lysanders of the No. 138 and No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadrons flew daring clandestine missions into occupied France, landing on improvised, moonlit strips to insert and extract agents and rescue downed Allied aircrew.
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Canadian Production and the Target Tug Role
In addition to British production, the Lysander was manufactured under license in Canada. Beginning in 1938, the National Steel Car Corporation (which later became Victory Aircraft) established a factory at Malton, Ontario. Between 1938 and 1942, this facility produced 225 Lysanders for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
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As the war progressed and the Lysander's combat role diminished, many Canadian-built Lizzies were repurposed to support the massive British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). They were converted into target tugs (designated TT Mk. IIIA) to train aerial gunners. Painted in distinctive high-visibility yellow and black stripes, these aircraft towed aerial targets for student gunners at various Bombing and Gunnery Schools and Operational Training Units across Canada.
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The History of Serial Number 2402
Aircraft serial number 2402 was a Westland Lysander Mk. IIIA built by the National Steel Car Corporation in Malton, Ontario. Like many of its Canadian-built counterparts, it was destined for a vital, if unsung, role in the training of Allied aircrews.
Service at No. 31 Operational Training Unit
The most significant portion of 2402's operational life was spent with No. 31 Operational Training Unit. Located at RCAF Station Debert in Nova Scotia, No. 31 OTU was an RAF training unit administered by the RCAF under the BCATP. The base at Debert was a major facility, opening in April 1941 to train pilots and aircrews in advanced aircraft operations before their deployment overseas.
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At Debert, trainees flew operational aircraft such as the Lockheed Hudson and later the de Havilland Mosquito. In its role as a target tug, Lysander 2402 would have been a familiar sight in the skies over Nova Scotia, trailing target sleeves for the gunners training on these larger combat aircraft. The work was demanding and essential, ensuring that Commonwealth aircrews were combat-ready before facing the Luftwaffe over Europe or the Atlantic.
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After accumulating over 950 hours of flight time—a testament to its reliable service as a workhorse of the training command—2402 was retired to reserve status in early 1944. Following the end of the war, it was stored in Quebec before being officially struck off strength and sold for disposal in November 1945, sharing the fate of many surplus military aircraft of the era.
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Each display is 8.5x11-inches and ships ready to hang. Each piece is signed & numbered one of only fifty.
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COA with full history of this aircraft and provenance provided on the reverse of each display!
