Unknown Frank Bellamy: Boeing B-17G and Cunard's QE2

 

U.S. Bomber

Continuing looking at the Polaroids which Alan Davis shared with us, we have another couple of mysteries - or are they? 

BOMBER 

Russell Jenkins kindly told me what this bomber was. It's a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress of the 8th Air Force which was based in England during WWII. I have not found where this might have been published - if at all. Could this have been a present from Frank Bellamy to someone? Or perhaps a commission? There were several local bases near Kettering. As Bellamy told Mike Tiefenbacher and Jerome Sinkovec, the creators of the magazine Menomonee Falls Gazette, which reprinted many "Garth" strips:

When I was in the army during the war I was at one time next to a U. S. Unit. My home was surrounded by the U. S. 8th Air Force. Yes, I have a soft spot and affection for the United States, hence my thanks to you for looking at my work. [MFG #81 -  July 2nd, 1973]

Bellamy was stationed at Barnard Castle, Co. Durham during the War, as well as Whitby, Yorkshire and Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire. The bases referred to around Kettering were likely to be Grafton Underwood (USAAF Station 106), Harrington (USAAF Station 179), Deenethorpe (USAAF Station 128) and Polebrook (USAAF Station 110). 

CUNARD SHIPS 

Cunard's QE2 artwork by Frank Bellamy

I remember, in 1965 I owned a toy boat made of rigid plastic approximately 32 inches in length (80cm), white, with little plastic green detachable lifeboats. In my memory I called it the Queen Elizabeth the Second (or more affectionately, the QE2) but I'm now suspicious of that memory as the QE2 was launched on 20 September 1967 and took her maiden transatlantic voyage on 2 May 1969. Memories play tricks on us!  

KMP Partnership formed in 1964 - all three partners were existing directors of agencies - and rapidly won clients such as Texaco and the Salvation Army as well of course for our purposes, Cunard. Apparently Kingsley Manton and Palmer (KMP Partnership) took over the Cunard advertising account in 1966. The publicity for the liner was going great guns in the Autumn of 1968 

I have no information regarding the commission except payment data which the late Nancy Bellamy kindly shared. 

In August 1968, Bellamy was expecting a cheque for £84. This was made up of £52-10-0 + £31-10-0. In November he banked the cheque. At the time he was drawing "Thunderbirds" in TV21 every week and being paid £80 for his two colour pages. Why are there two combined payments, well, it might be that he delivered the image above but also this image lacking the 'pop-outs' below

Cunard's QE2 -basic by Frank Bellamy

In the first of these two images we can see many 'pop-outs' which show aspects of the new liner. In 'Crop 1' there are twin propellers, a large cabin space (?), a common area on the ship (?) and a range of knobs and button, presumably showing up to date technology

Crop 1

The two propellers were outward turning LIPS Controllable Pitch props. The radio alignment seems to me to say the customer has many choices of buttons and knobs for automation, but I couldn't see anything like it viewing interior shots from the time. As for the spaces drawn, the design of the interiors was described as a departure from the "old style," with cabins featuring clean lines, functional spaces, and modern, often bright, 1960s colours.   

In 'Crop 2' we see a pop group with 4 guitars , the antenna mast, the funnel, two propellers and two single beds.  

 Why does the funnel get highlighted? According to a brochure at the time:

One of the most immediately striking things about the QE2 is its unconventional funnel. The funnel  itself was developed by the Cunard technical department after lengthy testing in the wind tunnel at the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington, Middlesex. Many models were constructed and tested before the final design was approved, the result being what is probably the most technically advanced funnel ever to be fitted to a passenger vessel. In the words of James Gardner A traditional smokestack proved out of the question after the first wind tunnel tests. In a functional design, performance had to take complete priority, and the final structure comprises (a) a relatively small diameter smokestack, (b) a large air outlet vent and (c) a wind scoop mounted on the fan house which covers the air intake. 

And the antenna assembly?

On QE2, the streamlined funnel will carry four inconspicuous notch aerials which will transmit a clear signal regardless of the direction of the ship. There are other notches for receiving and VHF communications. 

Then there's the second image of the QE2 racing with two speedboats.  The ship was one of the fastest ocean liners at the time of her launch in 1969, capable of reaching speeds of up to 34 knots. Commonly speedboats reached speeds between 30 to 50 knots (approximately 56 to 93 km/h or 35 to 58 mph). 

So a lot of firsts. Bellamy's designs were paid for by the new agency but were they used anywhere? Brochures of the time exist (as well as prior to launch) but so far I have not found anything to say they were published. Can you help?

The bow of the QE2 - with the company name visible - (Picture by Ultra7 c/o Wikipedia)

There's a great interview with one of the founding members of KMP, Brian Palmer on Dave Dye's "Stuff from the Loft". Michael Gallagher's article on the QE2 publicity is a really interesting read for those who want more information - no mention of Bellamy on that forum, unfortunately.