PILOT Officer Oliver Rayner Matheson is pictured in the cockpit of a Wellington bomber, R1162, one of a dozen aircraft gifted by New Zealand to the Royal Air Force at the start of the Second World War.

Looking up is Pilot Office Eric Fowler. Both pilots served with 75 (New Zealand Squadron). They both went on to become a Flight Lieutenant with a Distinguished Flying Cross - Matheson had a DFC and Bar.

There is an oak hymn number board in St Nicholas’s Church in Winsley dedicated to Fl/Lt Matheson’s memory.

THE son of a wartime pilot and artist who created an iconic piece of nose-art on a Wellington bomber is hunting for Wiltshire relatives of one of his father’s former comrades.

Pilot Officer Oliver Rayner Matheson was pictured in the cockpit of the Wellington bomber, R1162, one of a dozen aircraft given by New Zealand to the Royal Air Force at the start of the Second World War.

There is an oak hymn number board in St Nicholas’s Church in Winsley dedicated to Fl/Lt Matheson’s memory - he survived the war and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.

The nose art was painted by Pilot Officer Edward Wilcox, who came from Birmingham and had been a commercial artist before the war. He flew with Matheson as his air gunner on several occasions.

A publicity photograph of the nose art soda siphon squirting bombs appeared in national newspapers in the UK and New Zealand.

Now Edward Wilcox’s son, Michael Wilcox, 68, of Leominster in Herefordshire, has written an article about the nose art, which he has sent to the Imperial War Museum, the RAF Museum, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and other organisations.

He said: “The nose-art of Wellington bomber, R1162, has become exceptionally well known throughout the aviation world and is regarded as being iconic.

“Oliver Matheson survived the war despite subsequently been shot down whilst piloting a Lancaster and escaping back to the UK.

“In addition, 75 (NZ) Squadron is very much part of the history of New Zealand and Wellington bomber R1162, along with its crews and nose-art, are very well known in New Zealand.

“In fact, Corgi models made a die cast model of the aircraft complete with serial number R1162 and the nose-art.“I believe that Oliver Matheson’s family may well be very interested to know a bit more about his service with 75(NZ) Squadron.

“I would very much like to make contact with any of his relatives in order that I can share some of the photographs and other information that I have.”

To contact him email menwilcox@yahoo.co.uk