241 examples

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Updated: 4/10/2014

Ace in the Hole; Ah Soooooooo; Alabama Sweetheart; All Aces; All Shook; American Beauty; Any time;  Apache; Ape Ship; Ape Ship II;  As You Like It; Atomic Tom; Baby's Buggy7; Baby San; Bait Me; Beetle Bomb-er; Big Blow; Big Gass Bird; Big Ham; Big Shmoo; Black Sheep; Bluetailfly; Blue Tail Fly; Boomerang; Bub; Bugs Buster; Burke's Jerks; Bust'N the Blue; Butterfly Baby; Cami Ningyo; Capt. Sam and Ten Scents; Cat Girl; Charlie’s Wagon; Chief Mac’s 10 Little Indians; Chotto Matte; Command Decision; Cream of the Crop; Daijobu; Dead Jug; Deal Me In; Destination Known; Dinah Might; Dixie Babe; Double or Nothin'; Double Whammy; Down's Clowns; Dragon Lady; Dreamer; Duchess-Almost Ready; Dyin' Duck; Dyna Mite II; Eight Ball; Elsie; Every Man a Tiger; Fat Cat; Fifinella; Fire Ball; Flak Shack; Flying Parts; Four-A-Breast; Four of a Kind; Freshly Maid; Friendly Undertaker; Fry'In Pan; FUJIGMO; Go For Broke; Guardians of Peace; Gypsy; Had a Call;; Haulin' Ass; Hawg Wild; Hearts Desire; Heart's Desire II; Heavenly Laden; Hey Doc; Homing De-vice; Homogenized Ethyl; Honeybucket Honshos; Hot Box; Hot To Go; Hot'T Trot; Hoxie's Hoax, Island Queen; Jita; John's Other Wife; Koza Kid; Lady Be Good; Lady in Dis-Dress; Laggin Wagon; Lake Success Express; Lemon Drop Kid; Leo the Lion; Lil Darlin; Loaded Lady; Loaded Leven; Lonely Lady;  Lonely Lady Under New Management; Lonesome Polecat II; Los Angeles Calling; Lubricating Lady; Lucifer; Lucky Dog; Lucky Strike; Mac's Effort; Mais Oui; Margie's Mad Greek; Mason's Honey; Max Effort; Me Worry; Miss Behavin; Miss Fortune; Mission Accomplished; Mission Inn; Miss Jackie the Rebel; Miss Liberty Belle; Miss Manuki; Miss Manukie; Miss Megook; Miss Minooky; Miss N. C; Miss Spokane; Miss Tampa-X; Miss Yankee Doodle; Moon's Moonbeam; M.P.I; Mule Train; Myakinas; Myasis Dragon; My Assam Dragon III; Never Hoppen; Night Affair; Night-Mare; Nip On Nees; Nip-Pon-Ese; No Name 1; No Name 2; No Name 3; No Sweat; Old Grandma; Old Wild Goose; On Call; Our Baby; Our Gal (1); Our Gal; Our L' Lass; Outlaw; Over Exposed; "Over Exposed; Paddy Daddy; Pa-Pa-San's Parasites; Peace Maker; Peace Maker; Peace on Earth; Peak of Perfection; Peek of Perfection; Persuade Her; Phippens Pippens; Piece On Earth; Police Action; Pride of Brooklyn; Punch Bowl Queen; Purple Shaft; Rapid Rabbit; Raz 'N Hell; Ready Willin Wanton; Reddy; Reluctant Drag'on; Reserved; Rock Happy; Rough Roman; SAC Mate; SAC Queen; SAC's Appeal; Sad Sack; Sad S*A*C*; Salem Witch; Schlimeil of Fortune; September Song; Shack Rabbit; Shady Lady; Sheer Madness; Sheeza Goer!; Shinpainai; Short Time Only; Shutterbug; Sic' Em; Sit'n'git; Skivvy Girl; Slick Chick; Slicka Chicka; Slow Freight; Snake Bit; Snoopy Droopy; Snugglebunny; Society Leader; Soft Touch; Sophisticated Bum; So Tired; Southern Comfort; Southern Comfort (2); South Sea Sinner; Space Mistress; Spirit of Freeport; Spittin Kittin; Squeeze Play; Star Duster; Stateside Reject; Stinger Queen; Sucoshi Ni; Sun Bonnet King; Sure Thing; Sweet Judy 2; Tail Wind; Target Tonight; [Tarzon1]; TDY Widow; TDY Widow II, That's It; Tiger Lil; Todlin Turtle; To Each His Own; Tondemonai; Top of the Mark; Touch & Go; Town Pump; Tremlin Gremlins; Trouble Brewer; Typhoon Goon II; UGG-LY; Undecided ; United Notions; U.S. Mule; Vicious Roomer; Wanderer; Where Next?; Where Next; Who's Next; Wild Goose; Winchester 73-Red Raider; Wolf Pack; Wright's Delight; Worry Bird; ZE TAINT.

 

Listed Alphabetically [SN] Unit--Click Name to View Nose Art, SN to View Data. Links are Blue

A B-29 may have had more than one nose art & nose art may have appeared on more than one B-29.

*Be sure to look for layers of multiple meanings in nose art names*

 

 Ace in the Hole, Deal Me In [1872] 98BG: This new crew photo was submitted by Todd Christie, who wrote, "My father was the CFC on Ace in the Hole and TDY Widow II based out of Yokota AF in Japan in 1951-52... "  In the photo taken by Ed Stringer the cards can be seen clearly.  As all good poker players will attest, an ace in the hole is a powerful card.  The connotation is that this airplane is the 98BG’s powerful hole card.  So where is the ace?  (We won’t go there.)

     As you surf through these nose art photos, be on the lookout for crewmember's names & nicknames inscribed on the fuselage outside their crew stations.  I was surprised to find my old cadet buddy, J.D. Alexander, had picked up the nickname, "Shakey"[sic].  98BG B-29s sported an H within a square on the tail fin. On 04/33/52, “Ace” was damaged by AAA during a raid against Sinanju & crash-landed at K-14.

 

  Ah Soooooooo- [1817] 91SRW-91SRS: Japanese phrase quickly picked up by visiting crews.  It sort of meant, “I now understand,” (even when they didn’t).  Earlier, this aircraft was "Shutterbug."

 

  Alabama Sweetheart [2270] 98BG-343BS: Same serial number as Me Worry.

 

  All Aces [UNK] 22BG: Implied here is the idea that everyone on this crew is an "ace" in his own right.

 

  All Shook[4080] 98BG-343BS: Several meanings can be applied to this once common expression, but it was usually spoken with a wink to mean the exact opposite, as in "I'm all shook," meaning "I'm not afraid of you."  The phrase later became the basis for the title of Elvis Presley's #2 hit, "All Shook Up."  Elvis's love song seems to fit perfectly with the SYT painted on the nose of this B-29.  Who would not be "shook up" in her presence?  

 

  American Beauty [7661] 19BG-30BS: (circa 11/51): No relationship to the academy award-winning movie of the same name.  Most nose art reflects the keen sense of humor of the men who crewed the airplanes.  Much of it ironic.  All of it metaphoric. What you see on the nose of the B-29 is superficial.  There was always another meaning.  The American beauty on the nose of this B-29 is, of course, just the opposite.  Originally Lena the Hyena, American Beauty was the creation of Basil Wolverton while competing in an Al Capp contest to depict the world’s ugliest woman. Records indicate that this is the same tail number as Night Mare, UGG-LY  and the Koza Kid,—however, the Kid had more than one nose painting.  Bob Mann points out that the “Beauty” in the photo retains the WWII 58BW/468BG "Shooting Star" art.

    

  Any Time [6994] 98BG: This girl apparently borrowed her patriotic panties from “Reserved,” or vice versa. [Information requested.]

 

  Apache [1902] 19BG-28BS: Although KORWALD lists this tail number as unknown, a crewmember who was flying his last mission wrote that Apache was severely damaged by AAA and MiG cannon fire while bombing the Kwakson RR Bridge on 10 June 1952.  This was the same night that two other B-29s, Hot to Go and Miss Jackie the Rebel were shot down over the same target. In March 2006 Bill Colvin verified (with photo) that Apache made it to Kimpo (K-14) with wounded aboard and was, in fact, the B-29 reported, sans tail number (see KORWALD report). Bill’s email & photo finally brought all of the pieces of the puzzle together.

  Information received in April 2005 confirmed that this was also the tail number of our assigned B-29.  We had planned to paint “Clusterphobia” on the nose, depicting four buxom SYTs prominently displaying their Air Medals. Alas, the lasses fell victim to Lemon Drop Kid, which took priority--and our artist’s free time.  Clusterphobia became only a memory.

  “Apache” was also a nickname for the Indian on the 28BS insignia.  

 

  Ape Ship [6330] 98BG/343BS: The only companion for the ape behind bars is a bottle of V.O. His outward rage masks his dream of a SYT.  Ship is obviously word play on a favorite expression of the times, meaning that a person is out of control, as in: “He’s completely ape s---” later shortened to just "ape." Aircraft was shot down 18 December 1950.

 

  Ape Ship II [9894] 98BG-343BS: A virtual duplicate of Ape Ship.  The assigned crew probably was not flying Ape Ship when it was shot down and duplicated their original nose art on their replacement B-29.   The SYT floats in a cloud of—what, memory, imagination or yearning?

 

  As You Like It [7277] 22BG-2BS: Luther Burney wrote, "The plane was named in March 1950 by the pilot, Capt.Luther H. Burney DFC, who was an English major in college before WWII. It was named after "As You Like It" a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare based on the novel Rosalynde by Thomas Lodge, believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600. It features one of Shakespeare's most famous and oft-quoted lines, "All the world's a stage."  The Circle E B-29 flew 28 combat missions from Okinawa to Korea from Mar.-Nov. 1950. As You Like It was reclaimed (salvaged) at McClellan AFB, CA. 7-14-1954.


  Atomic Tom [1682] 19BG-30BS: (circa 11/51): The cat dropping the bomb is Tom from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series.   Judging from Tom's expression, he hopes the bomb drops on Jerry.  Since no atomic bombs were carried or even available to B-29 units in the Korean War, the name is somewhat misleading. Bob Mann & one other source indicate that Tom may have been the 4th ship on the first raid June 28th - along with The Outlaw, Lucky Dog and Double Whammy.  If so, Tom is the only one of the four that survived the Korean War.  Apparently there were two copies of Atomic Tom. Serial number has not been verified.  To view & review Aeromaster’s beautiful 19BG decals, including Tom’s nose art, click here for ModelingMadness.com.

 

  Baby San [6290]/ 98BG: The pigeon-Japanese word “Baby-san” meant very young—usually applied to the youngest member of a crew.  The tail gunner was often the “Baby-san” of the crew.  Baby San was also used to describe young girls, as appears to be the case with this nose art.  I can’t make out what she’s holding in her raised hand or why there is the ace and two face cards have been discarded.  Also named Phippen’s Pippens.  Lee Brunell wrote that the back of his photo was inscribed with, "When they go looking for trouble and [sic] usually find it."

 

  Baby’s Buggy [1618] 92BG  No Photo. [Information requested.]

 

   Bait Me? [9802] 19BG-93BS: The SWT on Bait Me? appears to be left-handed and fishing in high heels.  Bud Farrell wrote, (Bait Me) was the only B-29 on Okinawa with white wall tires." On the night of 9/12/52, on the way to Suiho, she iced up and crashed 21 mi SW of Kangnung, South Korea.  Eleven of the twelve-man crew perished.  Only Al Gerato managed to bail out, a scant 500' above the ground.

 

   Beetle Bomb-Er [9800] 98BG-344BS: Beetle Bomb was a long-shot horse in a Spike Jones song.  Beetle also flew as The City of San Francisco in WW-II.

 

   Big Blow [6339] 98BG: Records indicate that this is the same tail number as Dinah Might.  The nose art depicts Stalin being blown out of N. Korea—indicative that the crews (at least) were aware that Soviets were involved in the Korean War.

 

  Big Gass Bird, The [6400] 98BG:

 

  Big Ham [3974] 98BG-343 BS: No photo. The aircraft sustained flak damage while on a combat leaflet mission over Korea on 9 November 1951. The entire crew bailed out with Capt Bigham bailing out tenth over Paengnyong-Do.  Eleven crew members were rescued. Capt Bigham was not.

 

  Big Shmoo [2063] 19BG-93BS: An Al Capp creation from his popular “Li’l Abner

” comic strip.  The Shmoo liked to be eaten and tasted like any food you wanted it to taste like.  Ironically, the ever-helpful Shmoo caused all sorts of misery.  Big Shmoo is the B-29 depicted on the 2005 “American Advances in Aviation” U. S. Postal stamp sheet.

 

  Black Sheep [UNK] 54WRS: No photo. [Information requested.]

 

  Blue Tail Fly, The [1693] 22BG-2BS:  Ernest Lloyd Thompson, a crew gunner, arrived at Kadena on July 9, 1950.  He flew all 29 of his missions in The Blue Tail Fly, and wrote, "... #693 took us there from California (and) flew 29 missions without serious malfunction. (Then) 693 was taken from us and killed the next crew that flew her."  His son, Lowell, added: "The crew's one hour test hop in 693 on 23 October would be their last flight in this ship before turning it over to another unit.  This airplane was painted with the nose art of a blue tailed fly making a numeral 2 with a smoke trail inside of what I think was a light blue rounded-corner rectangle on the right nose.  They called her "The Blue Tail Fly" though those words are not visible in the photos I've seen…Somewhere along the way his crew was informed that the numeral 2 on the nose art had to go because it identified the 2BS specifically and that was against AF regs.  The crew had to remove the entire nose art scheme and so renamed the ship ZE TAINT! with an extra large exclamation mark. 

 

   Bluetailfly

 [5272] 19BG-30BS: (circa 11/51): Taken from the title of the song that helped make Burl Ives famous.  Remember, "Jimmy Crack Corn and I don't care, My master's gone away?"  (Victim of the bluetailfly!) Bluetail carries two six shooters and rides a bomb.  The 30 BS tail color was also blue, providing still another meaning to Bluetailfly.  Later it became U.S. Mule.

 

  Boomerang [1818] 91SRW-91SRS:  According to records, the “Boomer” eventually wound up in the Navy.

 

  BUB [1815] 19BG-30BS: (circa 1950) BUB is a “beat-up bastard.” Shot down on USSR Ferret Mission by LA-11, north of Hokkaido. Crew of 8 killed. (Bard)

 

  Bugs (Ball) Buster [1638] 19BG-30BS: (circa 11/51) Note the small ball behind Bugs Bunny.  He also carries a carrot in his hip holster.  It’s possible that the different Bugs are not on the same aircraft.  The cartoon balloon has Bugs saying, “Going Up, Doc,” instead of the standard, “What’s Up, Doc?”

 

  Burke’s Jerks [1721] 98BG-345BS: No photo. Jess Richey e-mailed: “(On its final flight, with Col John Grable) in the left seat and the Ops officer in the right seat, (721) was taking off (in a snowstorm), maxed-out at around 140,000#. The airplane got off the ground, but couldn't climb properly and crashed into a (450’) hill 4.7 miles north of the base. It burned 14 Japanese houses and all thirteen men onboard were killed.  This was probably the first time these two pilots ever flew with this crew.”  (The crew was regularly assigned to The Reluctant Drag’on; however, on this flight the regular Aircraft Commander, Capt. Robert Wade, was DNIF--grounded for medical reasons)  “The Co-pilot did fly that night. The crew chief (one of the best of the group) was also on board.”  AKA Tail Wind.

 

  Bust'N the Blue [2167] 98BG-344BS: The B-29 flew more like a truck that an airplane.  Sometimes it had to be wrestled with to achieve a correct heading, rate of descent, or desired airspeed.  Throw in engine or prop trouble and success became problematic.  As a result, the B-29 had more than it’s fair share of go-arounds and missed approaches.  A “missed approach’ was mandatory when the airplane broke out of the soup lined up with something other than the landing runway.  Bust’N the Blue’s last missed approach ended in a crash 4 mi NE of Taegu, South Korea, near the village of Sangdaegok-tong.  All twelve crewmembers perished.

 

  Butterfly Baby [1854] 91SRW-91SRS: “Butterfly” indicated a flighty mood, i.e. a butterfly boy was one who had several girlfriends & vice versa for butterfly girl.  Probably originally applied as a polite term for a prostitute, possibly derived from the opera, Madam Butterfly or vice versa.

 

  Cami Ningyo [5352] 98BG-343BS: Thanks to Joe Savko, we now know that Cami Ningyo means “paper doll.” Mike Sawyer points out that "cami" would normally be spelled with a k.

 

  Capt. Sam and Ten "Scent's" [6359] 19BG-93BS: Perhaps the most ambitious of all nose art. Eleven men trained and flew combat together as a crew.  Scent's is a play on cents but the significance is not clear. Carl Beitz's father, Tony, flew as a gunner on Capt. Sam and would appreciate hearing from others. Full serial number has not been verified.

 

  Cat Girl [UNK] 19BG-28BS: (circa 1952): Bob Harris, crew chief of Island Queen, is the artist who painted the beautiful and provocative lady.  Records indicate that this was a later version of Rock Happy, listed below.

 

  Charlie’s Wagon [9746] 22BG: This aircraft was transferred to the 98BG and became September Song. [Savko] [Information requested.]

 

  Chief Mac’s 10 Little Indians [2106] 98BG-345BS: Don Hallock, who turned 19 on 
Christmas Day, 1951, writes: “We arrived in Japan … in May of 1951.  Our crew was assigned
 to  Chief Mac’s 10 Little Indians. The current nose art was on the left side of the airplane.
We added Miss Yankee Doodle on the right side and flew the airplane on several 
missions…we became a "lead crew" and were assigned to Reluctant Drag'on. My crew
 flew 37 missions … and left the 98th in December 1951.”  After earning his pilot’s wings,
 Don flew another tour with the 19BG. Chief was hit by AAA fire on 03/01/1951.

  Chotto Matte [6400] 98BG-344BS: Translated directly, the Japanese phrase means, "a little bit, wait."  We would probably say, "Wait a minute," or even "Be patient."  As nose art, the phrase coupled with the painting has all sorts of connotations.

 

  Command Decision [7657] 19BG-28BS: Command Decision was probably inspired by the stage play and 1948 movie of the same name.  The cast of the 1948 film reads like a "who's who" of Hollywood male actors at the time.  The lead character, played admirably by Clark Gable, was rumored to have been based on the 98BG's Colonel "Killer" Kane  (read more).

     The most knowledgeable of the Seven Dwarfs (from Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarf's), Doc, is making his "command decision" based on Dopey's flip of a coin.  Although the depicted scene is satirical, Command Decision is certainly the best know B-29 of the Korean War.  It is the only recognized "bomber ace" and last B-29 bomber retired from the USAF.  Officially credited with shooting down five MiG-15s, the aircraft had an early history of nose gear problems.  One of our missions was scrubbed when its nose gear collapsed and blocked the rest of us from taking the runway.

     In one of the photos, Jim Maisel's father sits in the seat created when the prop tips were bent after striking the taxiway.

     Remarkably, the color photo (that I took & restored) of a 28BS B-29 on a daylight bomb run has been identified as Command Decision.  Up until Joe Savko solved the conundrum, the tail number had been a mystery because no B-29 by that number had ever been manufactured.  Joe wrote, “(7657) had been in a SAC unit (and) SAC, in the name of secrecy, played games with their serial (numbers) … In fact, SAC had three phantom bomb squadrons on paper that it kept moving about early in the Cold War."

     Anthony J. Queeno was assigned to Command Decision from Jan '53 through August '53.  Tony wrote, "We were the last crew to fly her in combat (on) the day they signed the truce . . .  in the air just hours before it was to take effect. We were supposed to fly her stateside but our A/C delayed a month so our Radar Operator could keep his promotion."
   Tony added, "We took up every inch of runway and each takeoff was a "white knuckle" takeoff.  The heaters never worked and we had AA go through the right wing just missing the fuel tank, but it got us back every time except once when we were forced to go to Suwan, Korea." 

     Anthony Queeno provided most of the photos and data on Command Decision contained on this website, especially during the final chapter of its combat service.  Command Decision Acft. & Crew Photos by Tony Queeno #1; Queeno #2; Queeno #3; Newspaper Clipping. 

      Command Decision's nose art is on display at the Air Force Museum, but what you see is not the original art or airplane.  After the original was destroyed in a multiple transportation accident, the forward section of #44-62139 was requisitioned and painted for the display.  It's ironic that an aircraft that survived heavy flak and multiple MiG attacks was damaged after being dropped from a helicopter, and while being transported from the AF Museum, on loan to another museum, rolled off of a flatbed truck, was destroyed, and had to be replaced (Clyde Durham).

     Click here for Christoph Erkens' beautiful model of Command Decision.   

 

  Cream of the Crop [1656] 19BG-30BS:  Not much to argue about here.  Apparently the “brass” objected to Cream's nipples and the crew responded by literally “censoring” their nose art.  See Cream of the Crop in action by clicking here. The day before Black Tuesday, 10/22/1951, Cream of the Crop, commanded by Capt Lyle B. Bordeaux, was shot down by a MiG-15 piloted by Lt. Col. Aleksandr P. Smorchkov.  The crew bailed out over the Yellow sea and was rescued by the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron from P-Y-do. [Don Birch]

 

  Daijobu [1815] 91SRW-91SRS  This appears to be a misspelling of daijoubu, which means “No Problem.”  “Daijobu” means “Are you all right?” as in “Have you got all your marbles?” Mike Sawyer supplied some other possible meanings, but to anyone who was there at the time this one means, "No problem," as in "No problem, GI," a well-worn phrase used by SWTs anxious to practice their trade.  Antenna array suggests some sort of recon or spook model B-29.  Look closely and you can see the dim outline of previous nose art.  See also Moon’s Moonbeam and Sun Bonnet King.

 

  Dead Jug [UNK] 19BG: (circa 11/51): "Jug" was also a nickname for the piston in the engine cylinder.  WW II vintage aircraft were notorious for having "dead" cylinders.  In other words, not firing.  Another "dead" jug was an empty one, also called a "dead soldier."

 

  Deal Me In [9805] 92BG-325BS: Reportedly, there were two Deal Me In nose art pictures.  Jim Peters writes, "This was a 92nd BG B-29, 325th BS and originally was to be named Ace In the Hole.  The crew chief was a M/Sgt Milstead. The reason for not naming the B-29 Ace In The Hole was it was considered too racy at the time."  Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of Deal Me In.

 

  Destination Known [1822] 98BG-344BS: However enticing the “destination” appears, it should be noted that the beneath it all flicker the fires of hell.  Also Heavenly Laden.  In and even earlier life, it was named Belle of Bikini when involved in the A-Bomb testing (c.1946-1947), at Eniwetok Atoll. Caption on the back of Lee Brunell's photo reads, "14 Crew members bailed out Jan 29, 1952   Total loss.

 

   Dinah Might [6338] 98BG: Records indicate that this is the same tail number as Big Blow. The alternate spelling (Dina) version, which appears on the left side, is probably a WW II bird.

 

  Dixie Babe [UNK] 19BG-93BS: (circa 11/51): For a short time, the watermelon in Babe's arms was a baby which bore a remarkable resemblance to our wing commander, Colonel Breckenbridge.  The "baby" wore a moustache and was puffing on a cigarette inserted into a cigarette holder.  The Colonel was affectionately referred to as "Brokenbridge" because so many of our targets were, in fact, North Korean bridges.  Those at Sinanju and even farther north, on the Yalu, in the heart of MiG Alley, were not our favorite destinations.

 

  Double Or Nothin’ [5357] 19BG-28BS: Dice was a popular game to see who paid the bar bill.  The loser would often go for double (two drinks or twice the ante) or pay nothing—depending on who rolled the highest number. In this illustration the SYT appears to be down to “nothing,” so obviously the “double” means something else is at stake.  Originally Shady Lady when assigned to the 98th, Double or Nothing was shot down by MiGs on  01/29/1953 near  Pyongyang.

 

  Double Whammy [7734] 19BG-93BS: A single whammy was bad enough, but a double--look out!  The phrase was invented by Al Capp and referred to an intense stare that had a withering effect on its victims.  Double Whammy was one of twelve aircraft that departed Kadena on 22 January 1952 for a night interdiction mission to the Sinanju-East rail by-pass bridge, North Korea. At 0318 on 23 January 1952, the following message was sent by Capt. Wm. R. Fisher (aircraft commander) to Lt. Col. Criss, the air group commander: "Barmaid 31, this is Barmaid 35. Have an engine out and cannot feather prop. Going to K-14." The rest of the message was garbled and there was no further contact. If on course, the B-29 should have been at 39 degrees 03 minutes North latitude and 125 degrees 10 minutes East longitude at 0318 hrs. The following search turned up no signs of the aircraft or crew.

 

  Downs’ Clowns [6264] 92BG-325BS: Although this may seem to be another example of self-deprecating humor, being referred to as “clowns” was usually accepted in a spirit of friendship.  Assuming the aircraft commander’s name was Downs, being thought of as his “clowns” was probably something the crew took pride in.  Notice the name under the window is “Jean,” probably a wife or sweetheart of the copilot.  In 1951, the aircraft was badly damaged by MiG fire and eventually declared an operational loss.

 

  Dragon Lady [1835] 19BG-30BS: (circa 1951) Remember her from Terry & the Pirates?  Dragon Lady has been the model of Asian intrigue and beauty for decades.  Records indicate that this version was a hard luck lady.  On the April 12 1951 mission against the Yalu River bridges at Antung, the aircraft commander and bombardier were killed by MiG cannon fire and the copilot landed the airplane at Suwon.  Due to the jet stream, some of the aircraft on the mission actually flew over the MiG base on the "sanctuary" side of the Yalu. Six month later, on Halloween eve, 1951, Dragon Lady blew up shortly after takeoff.  Read Jo Clark's narrative about Dragon Lady and the event.  For a close-up of the lady on the nose of Matt Swann’s beautiful 1/48th scale model, click here.

 

  Dreamer [7341] 98BG-343BS: The large photo, reprinted from Max D. Nelson’s terrific web site, is probably the best quality nose art photo on my list.  On October 24 1951, the day after Black Tuesday, Dreamer was severely battle damaged & Max’s crew was forced to make an emergency landing at Taegu (photo).  Max remembers, "To the best of my knowledge, 7341 never flew again.  The most serious damage, which wasn't apparent in the photos, was a 37mm shell embedded in the main spar of the right wing, which did not explode (fortunately for us).  There was also a 21mm un-exploded shell in one of the main gear tires. I'll always remember when Dave (A/C) rang the warning bell to prepare to bail-out. I grabbed my camera and forgot my chest-pack chute. Luckily the flames from #4 blew out and we made it to Taegu."   A pair of dapper wolves, in formal attire, lean against lamp posts & tip their swagger sticks (remember those?) toward the lovelies in the center.  The right side may be an earlier version, before the censors moved in and made the crews dress their dreams.  The lady on the left, however dressed, is still a dream resting on a cloud.  See also Elsie: the Armored Cow.  

 

  Duchess-Almost Ready, The [3880] 98BG: There are two different “sub” names for the Duchess. Gerry Keneske, right gunner on 3880 from March to October, 1952, offered the following: "Capt. Melvin N. Duke was the aircraft commander . . . who gave it the name The Duchess, claiming that every Duke needed a Duchess. The crew came up with the subtitle 'Combat Ready.' Aircraft 3880 and our crew arrived about the same time at Yokota AFB, Japan. We flew most of our 26 missions in our lady and although we saw our share of the rockets red glare, we never had a scratch. Our closest call was the loss of two engines (mechanical) over a target that resulted in a near crash on approach (Taegu, Korea) due to ground control's lack of familiarity with flight characteristics of the B-29. Capt. Duke was a veteran of WW II flying 77 missions over 'The Hump.'  In a phone conversation with him fifty year later, he remarked, 'You know, I could land a plane on two engines better than I can now navigate down the hall to take a leak.'

 

  Dyin’ Duck [UNK]  54WRS/514WRS: Although this weather recon unit was based on Guam, they performed weather reconnaissance in support of Korean War from July
1950-10 Feb 1951. Their Honors include Service Streamers for the Korean combat zone.

 

  Dyna Mite II [9909]  98BG-345BS: No photo.  Harold Watson writes: My B-29 was the subject of an article appearing in the Pacific Edition of the Stars and Stripes for her 200th mission over Korea. She finalized her career with 208, reportedly the most of any B-29 during the Korean conflict. Although she carried the name, Dyna Mite II, for the article with picture she was renamed "Grandma."  I would be interested in contacting anyone who remembered her. I was at Yokota from November 1952 until September 1953 with Ralph Logan as my Crew Chief.

 

  Eight Ball [2237] 98BG: Crashed on T.O.  See also Tondemonai. Eight Ball is the name of a pool game where you must sink the odd or even balls before sinking the eight last.  Until the end of the game, “behind the eight ball” is the last place you want to be; therefore, this is not a positive name to give an airplane—and apparently it lived up to its name.

 

  Elsie (the Armored Cow) [7341] 98BG-343BS: This is the same B-29 as Dreamer, but we're not 100% certain that it flew in the Korean War with the Elsie nose art.  The photo, submitted by Susan Turner and taken three months before the war started, suggests that it did.  Elsie sails over the Man in the Moon, as in the nursery rhyme, "The Cow Jumped Over The Moon." This Elsie wears a turret for a hat and has sprouted four fifty-caliber machine gun barrels from her udder. She is being ridden by a crewmember facing backwards who wears headphones and parachute while cranking some sort of propeller device.  My resident expert, Joe Savko, offers the following: "The crewman appears to be playing with a "Whirly Gig" or as I call it a "Pogo Stick" aka "Mystical Stick" (a wooden stick with notches on one edge that, when rubbed with another wood stick, causes the prop on the end of stick to rotate. Dragging your forefinger or thumb along one side of the stick (unseen by your audience), causes the prop to spin right or left on command."  The prop appears to be supplying the propulsion, which could be the crews' subtle appraisal of the B-29s tricky R-3350 engines.

 

  Every Man A Tiger [1830] 98BG:  On his web site, Max Nelson tells us that he “survived 16 missions in this old clunk.” [Information requested.]

 

  Fat Cat, The [UNK] 581st. Air Re-Supply & Communications. These CIA controlled aircraft were embedded in other squadrons, such as 2nd Air-Sea Rescue at Kadena and the 91st at Yokota, and called "Joe Hole" configured B-29s.  The "Joe Hole" was an enlarged opening left after the removal of the lower aft turret, and was used for dropping leaflets, supplies, and (believe it or not) agents.  The 13-man crew in their class A uniforms in front of a cartoon "Fat Cat" seem somewhat incongruous. It has also been noted that their mission symbols were “cows.”  Could this be a variation of the term “milk run?”

 

  Fifinella [5370] 19BG: Walt Disney designed Fifinella for the WASP.  The spunky little female gremlin was supposed to scare off male gremlins that were widely known to cause aircraft malfunctions.  Leslie Gustems provided the following from Dora Doughterty Strother’s  WOMEN OF THE WASP website: This new bomber, built especially for the long-range bombing desperately needed in the Pacific theater, was considered a "killer" or a "beast" by the men pilots assigned to train in it. Lt. Col. Paul Tibbets, Jr., later to gain fame as the pilot of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb, was our check pilot.

     We completed our checkout by the end of the third day (despite an engine fire during the first flight)19 and thereafter demonstrated our ship, Ladybird, decorated with a painting of Fifinella on the nose, at the very heavy bomber training base at Alamogordo, New Mexico. After a short time, the purpose of the flights had been achieved. The male flight crews, their egos challenged, approached the B-29 with new enthusiasm and found it to be not a beast, but a smooth, delicately rigged, and responsive ship. Paul Sitton writes, “I was the tailgunner on Wm. "Bill" Covington's crew … assigned to Fifinella when we arrived at Kadena (30th BS) in August 1952.”

 

  Fire Ball [2281] 98BG-345BS: Woody Woodpecker is motivated by the lass removing her sweater.  He is a real fire ball (go-getter).  Unfortunately, there is another way to look at a fireball.

 

  Flak Shack [3992] 91SRW-91SRS: Donald Johnson, stationed at Yokota AFB, Japan from 1951 thru 1954, sent the following: "[Flak Shack] aborted takeoff from Yokota when one engine failed to develop the required power and ran off the runway. The aircraft was totaled and one crewmember injured.  Ted Moran, the tail gunner, shattered his ankle when he jumped off the wing.  He was hospitalized at Johnson AB, not far from Yokota.  Ted's crew and I visited him several times while he was there. Ted and his wife accompanied my wife and I on a trip to Hawaii about five years ago (2003). Ted has since passed on."  Don adds, "One AC told me that the B-29 was the "best "three-engine" aircraft" the USAF ever had.  Others have referred to the Wright engines as being the "Wrong" engines. {Webmaster's crash in The Outlaw was eerily similar.) Caption on the back of the Lee Brunell photo, reads "21 Jan 1952  Total Loss. Marked Official Air Force  Photograph APO 328 [Yokota]."  Evidence provided by Collin Smith indicates that Flak Shack was a later version of Where Next?  (Ed. Note: Eyewitness reports differ from various published accounts that claim Flak  Shack was hit by flak in March 1952 while over the Yalu and crash landed.)

  Flying Parts (Stand Clear) [6438] 92BG: Kadena.  Nose gear and assorted engine parts indicative of the reliability of the B-29 (not!).

 

  Four-A-Breast [6323] 19BG-28BS: (circa 11/51): The bomber flew120 missions and was credited with one Mig.  Glenn Garig and his crew flew Four-A-Breast back to the states.  This nose art inspired our crew to name our plane, "Clusterphobia."  Alas, “Clusterphobia” was never painted and later became Apache.

 

  Four of A Kind [9999] 19BG–30BS: In the linked photo the aircraft’s belly is being painted black for night missions.  We think the yellow is some sort of primer but are not sure. Also, although this was identified as Four of a Kind, unfortunately, the nose art is painted over. The other photo verifies the tail number “9999,” which would give us “four-of-a-kind” and logically seem to be the correct number.  9999  has also been verified as "Sure Thing," and it seems likely it had the same nose art with the name change.

 

  Freshly Maid [2270] 98BG-343 BS:  A play on the word maid, as in, “He made out.”  [Information requested.]

 

  Friendly Undertaker/98BG: No Photo [Information requested.]

 

  Fry’In Pan, The [9812] 98BG-345BS:  Hot stuff!  Officially, "Pan" was assigned to the squadron CO, LTC. Richard Fry.  Later it was renamed Sucoshi Ni!

 

   FUJIGMO [UNK] 19BG-93BS: (circa 11/51): Whenever a visiting dignitary asked for the meaning of "FUJIGMO," the answer was usually that it was a Japanese word like "Bansai!"  It does look impressive in a sort of classic Oriental-Gothic print, with a coat-of-arms shield below, indicative of heraldry, honor, and all that knighthood stuff.  Sword, raised fist, and moon symbol.  Ah, but look closer and you see--yes, the sword is a purple shaft; the fist raises a finger, and the half moon is (politely) an outhouse decoration! FUJIGMO equals: F--- yoU Jack, I Got My Orders.  FUJIGMO had engine trouble on a test flight and crashed.  Don Nicholas e-mailed:  “I watched FUJIGMO crash, while on duty as Tower Officer   As I recall … they shut down #1 engine inflight ... copilot was making the landing, came in high and hot, and AC took control too late. Got behind the power curve on three engines, and airplane did a slow banking turn into the weak side and cartwheeled in the infield. Luckily, there were survivors.”  The faded photo of the 98th FUJIGMO is a rougher version of the 19BG nose art.  Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of FUJIGMO.

  Go For Broke [UNK] 43ARS: A Hose and reel KB-29M on temporary duty from Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona to the 421ARS, Detachment 4,Yokota AFB, Japan. Both Nose Wheel door and rudder cap markings feature diagonal blue and white Stripes with a large Circle K on the tail. "Takusan Chi Chi" is Japanese/GI slang for "big bazooms." [Savko]

  Guardians of Peace [2224] 98BG-345BS:  Another play on the word peace. (piece). Same tail # as The Wanderer. [Information requested.]

 

  Gypsy, The [1948] The earlier of two versions of Gypsy sits on the ramp at Kadena in July 1950 at the outbreak of the Korean War. [Information requested.]

 

  Gypsy, The [1948] 91SRW-91SRS: This gypsy has her suitcase packed and ready to go.  From the stickers adorning her suitcase it is obvious this lady has been around--and so has the crew.  This is the F-13A, photo-configured version of the B-29. These aircraft saw extensive service all over the world, usually embedded with various bombardment units (the 98th when this photo was taken), flying only photo reconnaissance missions.

 

  Had A Call [6335] 19BG: In the late '40s, Hadacol was a potent alcohol elixir that sponsored Hank Williams' radio show. Its commercials jingled:  "What put the pep into Grandma." In this case it is grandpa who is pepped, tossing aside his crutches to pursue the SYT.  Apparently same aircraft as Miss Tamp-X & TDY Widow.  The latter reportedly was battle damaged & moved from the 98BG to the 19BGth after being repaired.

 

  Haulin’ Ass [2103] 98BG-343 BS: Literally meant, “moving at a high rate of speed.”  This has to be tongue in cheek.  In the Korean War, the B-29 was noted for being slow, not fast.  Nevertheless, after dropping our bombs we always tried to “haul ass” out of enemy fire.  At the same time we have the actually hauling what was chauvinistically referred to in those days as “ass.”  This is another pipe dream, indicative of what the young crew’s wishes.  Dave Hall wrote, “My father served as a gunner on … "Haulin' Ass" …  and the "creature" hauling the attractive young lady is indeed an ass . . .  painted to look as if it is moving at a high rate of speed,  hence the double wordplay, "Haulin' Ass".  The plane was shot down and ditched in the Sea of Japan after having completed approximately 35 …missions …  My father was awarded the purple heart as well as the air medal for the plane's final mission.”  Ernest Rucker's father, Emmett, was the aircraft commander of "Haulin'" from December 6, 1951 through November 3, 1952.

 

  Hawg Wild, It’s [1748] 307BW-371BS: One of only three examples of 307BW Korean War era nose art that I've uncovered. SIT 'N' GIT & My Assam Dragon are the other two. Hawg is presently on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.  Reassembled at China Lake & flown from Davis-Monthan AFB to England by a civilian crew.  The pilot had never flown a B-29 before.  Ironically, he was killed in a twin-Cessna crash at Ryan Field, Tucson AZ shortly after returning from England. To look at photos & read all about the Hawg's rescue, click here.

 

  Hearts Desire  [6400] 98BG: Heart’s Desire crashed on the last day of March 1952.  Nine men were killed. [Information requested.]

 

  Heart's Desire II [9656] 98BG-343BS:  [Information requested.]

 

  Heavenly Laden [1822] 98BG-344BS: Prior to its assignment to the 98BG, Heavenly Laden had been involved in nuke testing at Bikini Atoll.  Engine fire, crew bailed out over Japan on 1-29-52.  Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of Heavenly Laden.

 

  Hey Doc II [UNK] 98BG: Bugs has found himself a beauty.  To the left of the nose art, the dim outline of a previous name can be barely made out. [Information requested.]

 

  Homing De-vice II [UNK] 91SRW-91SRS: An angel in a top hat, bomb in one hand, bottle in the other. [Information requested.]

 

  Homogenized Ethyl [9710] 43ARS: I’d either forgotten or hadn’t known they’d used KB-29s for air refueling during the Korean War.  The aircraft on the receiving end of the hose is an F-84.

The AF Museum has a better photo of Ethyl and also describes drogue in-flight refueling systems: "… the refueling hose…had a donut-shaped para-drogue attached to the end. The … pilot flew his aircraft's probe into the refueling hose recepticle for fuel transfer. The first combat IFR was accomplished using this technique on 29 May 1952 when twelve F-84E's of the 159th Fighter-Bomber Squadron flew a bombing mission from Itazuke Air Base in Japan against targets at Sariwon, North Korea.

 

  HONEYBUCKET HONSHOS (I) [1929] and II [1742] 91SRW-91SRS: RB-29A-55-BO: Recon.  Honeybuckets were means of transportation employed to haul human excrement from the outhouses to the fields where it was used as fertilizer.  We “round eyes” had to adjust our senses of smell in order to adapt to the Eastern environment.  Earl Myers, the original aircraft commander wrote, “…considering the amount of crap we had taken from our earlier squadron commander, [our crew] chose the name Honeybucket Honshos. Our artistically inclined Navigator, Lt. Willie Wilson, drew the original picture …We then hired a Japanese artist…”  [FULL TEXT]   The word Honshos is probably a play on Honcho, meaning “boss” and Honshu, the Japanese main island where they were based outside Tokyo.  The artwork is worth examining, beginning with the aircraft commander in front, dreaming of captain’s bars, to the tail gunner in the last bucket.  Although the art was changed slightly for version II, it is obviously a replacement. The background provides more contrast and the A/C is now dreaming of Major’s leaves.

 

  Hot Box [9682] 19BG-93BS: (circa 1950) One can only wonder how they got away with this name?  Hot Box was lost on the 04/12/1951 maximum effort mission against bridges across the Yalu that involved all three B-29 groups stationed in the theater at the time.  Hot Box was attacked by 15-20 MiGs, exploded and crashed into a mountain.  The tail Gunner on Four-A-Breast reported no parachutes & no survivors. Among those lost was the 93BS squadron commander, Lt. Col. Douglas Hatfield. In December 2007, Robert Moore emailed: "The remains of Col. Hatfield and Capt. Simpson have been recovered and are coming home."

 

  Hot To Go [2183] 19BG-28BS: (circa 1952):  According to information Glenn Garig (pictured) received from Maxwell AFB, she first went from Walker AAF, KS to the D-M Boneyard.  She was taken out of storage and placed in service with the 19BG on 29 Feb. 1952.  On 10 June 1952 the plane was lost in combat over North Korea during an attack on the railroad bridge at Kwakson, reportedly shot down by the Soviet MiG pilot, Karelin.  Miss Jackie the Rebel and Apache were also lost to AAA and MiG cannon fire that night.  Apache made it to Kimpo but never flew again.

  That’s Glenn up front in the Mark Styling painting of Hot to Go.  Glenn also reminds us what happened when a pilot dragged the B-29’s tailskid.  The George Amthor photo, with the red stripe, proves there were at least three Hot To Go ladies.  The black B-29 belly and the lady’s swimsuit suggest that the 93BS model came after Glenn’s beauty.  View a model of Hot To Go by clicking here. 

 

  Hot To Go [5352] 98BG A SYT on the phone clutches a towel, indicating she has just bathed—wearing black stockings?  There were at least three different babes who were "hot to go." [Information requested.]

 

  Hot’T Trot [9727] 98BG-345 BS: Another sexually-oriented term that took on a lot of other

meanings.  Not sure if the unusual placement of the apostrophe has special meaning.

 

  Hoxie's Hoax [1923] 92BG-325BS: No photo. While attempting to salvo bomb load at Oki-Gunto, one bomb prematurely exploded, causing the aircraft to crash near Dogo Island, Japan. Five crewmembers, including the Aircraft Commander, Capt. Thomas Hoxie, successfully bailed out and were rescued. 07/13/1950. Click here for detailed commentary by Lance Hoxie, son of Thomas Hoxie:

 

  Island Queen [3982] 19BG-28BS (circa 1952): Bob Harris, crew chief on Island Queen, was also an artist (see Cat Girl, above). Queen also flew as The City of Forth Worth in WW-II..

 

  Jita

 [2025] 19BG-93BS: (circa 1950) “Jab in the ass.”  The devil about to stick his pitchfork into one mad jackass.   This is another of many examples of nose art that cleverly reveal what many of the crews that had flown missions in WW II felt about being recalled (many involuntarily) to fight Truman’s “Police Action.”

 

  John’s Other Wife [6349] 19BG-28BS: The crew photo was taken while the airplane was assigned to the 22BG. [Information requested.]

 

  Koza Kid [7661] 19BG-30BS: Nearly the same as American Beauty.  Old Koza and New Koza were a pair of villages outside of Kadena AFB, Okinawa.  Anyone who visited Koza during the Korean War will probably smile at the recollection.  Either that or shed a tear.  One of our original gunners claimed title to “mayor of New Koza.”

 

 Lady Be Good [1834] 98BG-343BS: Also was Slow Freight IV circa 50- 51 clear body. [Savko]

 

  Lady in Dis-Dress [6446] 98BG-344BS: Jim Chance wrote, “I was part of the ground crew based at Yokota AFB, when it developed engine trouble, caught fire in the wing, and crashed in Tokyo. All the crew bailed out ok except for some injuries . . . there were no civilian casualties in Tokyo. . .”  This is the same tail number as Los Angeles Calling (below).

 

  Laggin’ Waggon [5390] 98BG:  Transferred from the 92BG.  Another not very complimentary name, indicating that this B-29 was, for some reason, slower than others.  It was not uncommon for a particular aircraft to have an unusual flight characteristic and be given an indicative nickname.  One B-29 in the 19BG was infamous for flying sideways.  The down side of this was that such aircraft burned greater amounts of fuel.  The misspelled Waggon suggests a last name, perhaps the aircraft commander’s.

 

  Lake Success Express [9980] 98BG: The pretty lass waves a UN flag and holds a TNT balloon.  Instead of crew names, significant-others are written under their crew position windows.  (Also 92BG)

 

  Lemon Drop Kid [0042] 19BG-28BS: (circa 2/52): Our airplane was going to be called CLUSTERPHOBIA, but the artist was diverted to Lemon Drop Kid.  Lemon Drop was a publicity ploy for a worthy cause.  Bob Hope visited Kadena during his Christmas USO tour at about the same time he was starring in a movie titled, The Lemon Drop Kid, based on a Damon Runyon story.  The Runyon fund was Bob's favorite charity.  The nose art depicts Bob in Santa attire tending to the donation pot.

  We flew our last mission in The Kid.  The night bombing mission, taped by an "Armed Forces Radio Crew, was to be used on the air stateside in support of Bob's Damon Runyon cancer research fund.  After many uneventful hours, the producer asked us to liven up the interphone chatter.

   Our tail gunner, who kept us laughing a lot, cried out, "Bogey at six-o'clock high!"

   "What is it?" the CFC demanded.

   "It's a plane . . . a train . . . no!  It's Superman!"

   The crew cracked up but the radio guys were not amused.

   Note Jim Foster's (D) name under the window.  (Jim passed away in 2007)  He had this to add on the “Kid:” Jim’s crew picked it up at McClellan and arrived at Kadena in Oct. ’51. Capt Tom Bradshaw, was the A/C and Jim was co-pilot.  Jim flew 27 missions in the Kid, which made it back to the states after Jim, in October 1952, where it was probably converted to cookware.  Don Nicholas’ crew brought Kid home.  Don emailed: “(I) Remember losing the autopilot after T/O from Kadena, and hand flew it all the way thru Haneda Airport, Japan, to Hickam.” Hand flying a B-29 was no small feat.

 

  Leo the Lion [1617]  92BG: See Pride of Brooklyn (below)

 

  Lil Darlin [6273] 98BG-345BS: The great bomb run photo was sent by JC Carlson whose cousin was FE on Miss Yankee Doodle.  The flier in the bottom photo is Dale Massie's father, Buddy.  Dale emailed, "My father wrote on the back. 'How do you like lil darling? tickle tickle.  I bet you think I'm a stinker.'  On 14 October 1951, after returning from a combat mission with one engine out, Lil Darlin attempted a landing at Yokota.  The aircraft lost control and plowed into the Yokota Bowling Alley & Clothing Sales, killing nine and injuring five of those on board.

 

  Loaded Lady [9944] 98BG-344BS: B-29’s were considered to be females.  “Loaded” contains two fairly obvious connotations: loaded with bombs and probably “loaded,” as in drunk—or just plain loaded with looks. Larry Hanvey (pictured), a 345th tail gunner, flew the lady is 1952.  His A/C was Capt. James F. O'Conner.

 

  Loaded’ Leven [6903] 98BG-344BS:  The eleven who are “loaded” are, of course, the eleven-man crew of the B-29.  Besides being “loaded” with bombs & ammunition, the word also refers to a condition that exists after too much to drink, as in “He’s really loaded.”     Individual ranks are marked in the dots, five officers and six enlisted, with their names written above the dots.  We can see two names clearly below their windows, the flight engineer, Ed Sydow, and the copilot, Ray Miller.  These names do not appear on the crew list that bailed out of Loaded’ Leven on 28 Feb. 1952.  Ironically, Loaded experienced engine trouble in the NE corner of the Punchbowl.

 

  Lonely Lady [6361] 98BG-344BS: Kate Nesbitt, who furnished the photo, wrote: "My Dad is (Captain) James W Welch Jr; (back row, middle)." Capt. Welch later became the squadron operations officer.

 

  Lonely Lady Under New Management [6361] 98BG-344BS:  The name and serial number indicate that the crew took over the original Lonely Lady (above).

 

  Lonesome Polecat II/ [6272] 98BG-343BS: Lonesome Polecat was another favorite Al Capp character to adorn the noses of B-29s in the Korean War.

 

  Los Angeles Calling [6446] 98BG-344BS:  The telephone served as a prop for many lovely young ladies{Could this be Hilda?), no doubt calling her favorite B-29 crewmember. Same tail number as   Lady in Dis-Dress (above) which later crashed.

 

  Lubricating Lady [1751] 19BG-93BS: No Photo. Charles H. Rees writes: “My crew, R-78-AO, (ditched) Lubricating Lady 9 miles NW of Kadena, Okinawa (at 11:59PM), Oct 31,1952, during a Typhoon, in the East China Sea. . . . We were returning from our 4th Combat mission (and).lost two engines about 90 miles out . . .  The 3rd engine surged and quit. Capt. Harvey then landed the B29, during a Typhoon. It was actually a good ditching until we slammed into a 20 ft (swell). We should have had plenty of gas to reach Kadena and there was sure plenty of it in the East China Sea.  I was the Top Gunner (CFC) and ditched up forward with the radio operator, E. B. LeMaster, who was also one of three survivors.  The other survivor was the spare bombardier, Lt. James Knox.

 

  Lucifer [1745] 19BG-30BS:  The fat cat, evil pet of the wicked stepmother, is from Disney's "Cinderella."  Lucifer was modified to carry radio controlled 12,000 pound Razon and Tarzon bombs--usually targeted against the south end of Yalu bridges.  The forward part of the greenhouse was fitted with a B-50 type and the radome repositioned in front of the forward bomb bay, replacing the lower front turret. Lucifer flew 6 Razon and 10 Tarzon missions.  The big bombs proved almost as deadly to the crews who carried them as to the enemy who received them.

 

  Lucky Dog [6370] 19BG--93BS: (circa 1950-51): Jess Richey sent this photo, "supplied by a relative of Fred Kirby.”  Lucky Dog was not so lucky. It was shot down on April 12, 1951 along with Hot Box. MiG-15 cannon fire set  #1 engine on fire, but the airplane made it to the water and ditched.  Debris and an oil slick were found, but no survivors. KORWALD records show that six B-29s were lost or damaged beyond repair on this mission, including three from the 93BS, two from the 30BS and one from the 371BS

 

  Lucky Strike [2010] 92BW-326BS: Lucky Strike was a popular cigarette at the time.  Smokers often divided into two camps, the Lucky Strike smokers vs. Camel smokers.  During WW-II  “Lucky Strike green went to war (remember?)” and the package has been white since.  Lucky strike refers more directly to the mission objective of “striking the target” with the bomb load.  A really lucky strike would be a “shack” (see Shack Rabbit).  Leslie J. Westberg was the aircraft commander.

 

  Mac’s Effort [0073] 98BG-344BS: I like this one (a play on Max Effort, below).  Does anyone else recall the joke that goes with the high-kicking cheerleader? [Information requested.]

 

  Mais Oui! [6436] 98BG-343BS: 06/20/1951: Same tail # as Miss Behavin. AAA Damage- Hwangju. [Information requested.]

 

  Margie’s Mad Greek! III [UNK] 71SRG-31SRS:  MMG III was a post-WW2 era F-13A whose job in a strategic reconnaissance squadron (SRS) was to snoop on the bad guys.  While doing so, MMG III touched down at Kadena, Yokota, and other Far East locations during the Korean War.  Greek was one of about 150 F-13As that were the B-29 "Cadillacs" of their time, costing millions more for recon modifications that included cameras, electronics, and upkeep.  B-29 guru, Joe Savko, says "They were very much coddled, and went from recon group to group as the need arose."

  Mason's Honey [1721] 98BG-345BS: The nose wheel door markings (white with 3 black diagonals ) identify this as a 345BS B-29..  The clear body places the date c. 1950 . The aircraft was eventually salvaged at Davis-Monthan AFB. The very popular SYT also appears on Max Nelson's Dreamer and Miss NC. [Savko]

  Max Effort [0012] 19BG--93BS: This one had a lot of interpretations; few of them fit to print.  The mouse rides the elephant as man rides the airplane and a max effort in mission terms meant all available aircraft flew.

 

  Me Worry [2270] 98BG-343BS. Same serial number as Alabama Sweetheart. Also had a 307BW connection. [Savko]

 

  Miss Behavin [6436] 98BG-343BS: One must marvel at the quality of some of the 98BG’s nose art.  It’s almost as though Milton Caniff paid a visit and painted many of their nose art ladies.  Same tail # as Mais Oui!

 

  Miss Fortune [UNK] 19BG-28BS: (circa 11/51) C. J. Christ, copilot on Miss Fortune, pointed out that the lady has been dealt a busted royal flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack of diamonds and the deuce of spades.  But she may still have a draw card that could fill out the royal.  This is also a play on a word misfortune, hoping that Lady Luck, in the guise of Miss Fortune, would bring the crew home safely from every mission.  I can say, from personal experience, that she did.  It was, however, our misfortune to fly Miss Fortune back to the states at the end of our combat tour.  Somewhere near Kwajalein we lost our radios.  For a few tense minutes it seemed possible we might join Amelia Earhart in that great watery grave called the Pacific Ocean.  When we finally landed in California the nose gear shimmy damper failed, nearly causing us to go off the runway.  [My crew with Miss Fortune]  

 

Mission Accomplished [1813] 512SRS: In 1951 the 512th became the 56th. (Gaddes )

 

  Mission Inn [1669] 22BG-33BS:  Named for a hotel in Riverside CA (home base for the 22BG), with the double meaning that the bombing mission is “in” (completed).  The communist soldier is running from a bomb dropped from Mission Inn, back to the 38th Parallel, the line between North & South Korea before the North Koreans invaded.  You can read more about Mission Inn at the March Field Air Museum Web Site.

 

  Miss Jackie the Rebel [1967] 19BG-30BS: KORWALD notes that on 6/10/1952, “Jackie” was brought down by AAA near the railroad bridge at Kwakson NK-- the same night that Hot to Go was shot down.  However, assembled evidence supports the contention that both B-29s were shot down by MiGs, and a third B-29, Apache, was critically damaged, but made it to K-14 and never flew again.  Loyd Keith, Jackie’s crew chief, supplied the following official Russian government report that reads: “On 10 June 1952 . . . Lt. Col. Studilin took off in a MiG-15 to intercept enemy bombers.  … Studilin saw … a B-29 illuminated by searchlights … and executed four attacks . . .  After two attacks, the engine on the left wing of the B-29 caught fire.  The third and fourth attacks  (without searchlights) were oriented on the flames from the burning engine… After the fourth attack… the engine on the right wing caught fire.  Losing altitude and executing a left turn … the B-29 exploded and crashed into the sea".  Marty Fogle wrote, “ Major Hadley, the squadron Commander, was on Miss Jackie. The Hadley family had just arrived on Okinawa a few weeks before. An officer that had been on one of the other planes that night was assigned to offer help to Mrs. Hadley and even escorted her back to the states. They eventually married.”

   Jackie’s cowl flaps were painted blue for easier identification. Loyd Keith’s beautiful model of Miss Jackie has been added to the photo page.

 

  Miss Liberty Belle [2208] 92BG-326BS: Wayne Reece wrote that the aircraft was flown by Capt Merlin E. Tebbs and the photo sent by the Radio operator, Carl Vest, who completed 14 missions by late August (1950).  Vest returned home at that time due to the death of his father, and rejoined the crew when they returned to Fairchild.  Apparently the aircraft was transferred to the 307BG in October 1950.
 

  Miss Manuki [4038] 22BG-19BS: The gentleman in the photo is Frank Galligan, 19th Radar Maintenance.  "Manuki" is a play on pronunciation and probably has another meaning as well (May be confused with Miss Manukie--next).

 

  Miss Manukie [6415] 98BG-343BS: I'd originally listed this with Miss Manuki (above); however, evidence strongly indicates that this was a different aircraft.  Markings suggest an earlier version, strengthened by the apparent circled E (22BG) on the background B-29 vertical fin. It is probable this aircraft was transferred to the 98th, and ditched on 09/19/1951 with no survivors. Confirmation and/or correction appreciated.

 

 Miss Megook [UNK] 19BG: (circa 1950) Literally, “Miss me, Gook.”  The enemies were referred to as “gooks,” so the nose art expresses the double desire of returning unharmed to the Miss (whose bra was altered) who “misses” her fliers emotionally, and the desire for whatever the enemy shoots their way to likewise miss them spatially.  Another layer of meaning has been provided by Dan Googins, a combat cameraman stationed at Osan AB, 1972-1976.  Megook (Mi Guk, in anglicized Korean), means "beautiful country," and is the Korean word for America, or the United States.  So another translation may be "Miss America."

 

  Miss Minooky [7332] 98BG-344BS/:  This spelling appears to be closer to the intended meaning than “Manuki.”  This is the plane Jess Richey’s crew flew back to the U. S. on March 18, 1952.  Minooky was also named Miss Spokane.

 

  Miss N. C. [6376] 19BG-28BS:  N.C. could be "No Comment" or "North Carolina."  My hunch is that it meant both.  Note that SYT holds her ears, apparently not wishing to hear what is being proposed.  Previously, I’d thought Miss N.C. had flown with the 307th BW (without the nose art) on the disastrous Black Tuesday mission.  Ralph Livengood (D), author of B29 Navigator Korean War 1951, set me straight by proving this could not possibly have been true.  From the second photo, however, it appears that Miss N.C. encountered bad luck in the 19th.  Because the props are unscathed, I’m assuming this mishap was the result of an unintended gear retraction.

 

  Miss Spokane [7332] 98BG-344BS:  Nose art is on left side.  Also assigned to the 92BG.  [Information requested.]

 

  Miss Tampa –X [6335] 98BG-343BS:  Believed to have originally been Miss Tampa with the X added by a new crew.  The right side of the nose contained the nose art, TDY Widow. After being repaired for battle damage, she was transferred to the 19BG and became “Had a Call.”

 

  Miss Yankee Doodle [2106] 98BG-345BS: Dale Massie wrote: "My father, Lt. Col. Herbert W. "Bud" Massie USAF (deceased) served with the 98th BG/345 BS stationed at Yokota from May-Dec 1951 . . . [he] was the radar operator [and] the AC was Capt. Bert Charlson. This was the nose art on the right side of the aircraft."  The left side depicted Chief Mac’s 10 Little Indians. Dale informs us that this star-spangled beauty derived her name from the Yankee Doodle Cocktail Lounge in San Francisco.  Address? You guessed it: 447 Powell Street and one of. Capt. Charlson's crew's favorite hangouts. Another favorite San Francisco bar among B-29 crews was the famous Top of the Mark.  The "Miss" was hit by flak several times in the next months and credited with shooting down a Mig-15. (Hallock)

   Bud Wenz (pictured) received the "Bronze Star with valor for climbing out into an open bomb bay and kicking off a hung bomb." [JC Carlson]  See also, Ready, Willin Wanton.

 

  Moon’s Moonbeam  [1815] 91SRW-91SRS: See also Daijobu and Sun Bonnet King. [Information requested.]

 

  M.P.I. [6247] 98BG-344BS: The initials probably stand for "Mean Point of Impact."  A military term, MPI is defined as "The point whose coordinates are the arithmetic means of the coordinates of the separate points of impact/burst of a finite number of projectiles fired or released at the same aiming point under a given set of conditions.

" Jess Richey wrote: “ (MPI) crashed on the south end of the runway … crew got out before it started exploding, but 11 firemen were killed. (Nov 18,1951)  We were the next plane to take off and had too wait 2 to 3 hours for them to get the fire engines refilled, then took off downwind.”

 

  Mule Train [6261] 22BG-33BS: The song, “Mule Train,” was a big Frankie Laine hit in 1949.  The lyrics seemed to fit the B-29 in the Korean War, especially, “Seems as how they never stop, clippety clop, clippety clop Clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety cloppin' along.” Apparently there were two copies of Mule Train.  Also, before becoming Mule Train, one of them reportedly was named Sarasota Queen.

 

  Myakinas [2108] 98BG-343BS: On 04/10/1951  while on a night intruder mission against Sinanju/Kunu-ri, with two engines out due to battle damage, Myakinas crash landed at Taegu.  Several of the crew were killed. Robert Dyslin wrote: "I was (an Air Policeman) on runway patrol the night of the crash . . . the first person to locate this crash site and speak to a survivor . . . only one crewman walked away from the crash. I asked him if he was OK and he responded. I crawled beneath the wreck only to see the heads and faces of three more crewmembers. I immediately raced down the dried up riverbed to round up the rescue vehicles that were running in circles looking for the aircraft. I led them to the crash site (and) stayed at the site until Captain Herman, C.O. of air police arrived . . . (He) took my Jeep and left me with the wreck until daybreak."  Eight of the twelve man crew survived the crash and Michael Raney has identified the one who walked away as his grandfather, Billie Thornbrugh.

 

  Myasis Dragon [1830] 19BG: (circa 1950) Someone with rank apparently objected and ordered them to blot out the “asis” portion of the nose art name.  Transferred from the 92BG. [Information requested.]

 

  My Assam Dragon III [UNK] 307BW-371BS: One of three 307BW nose art depictions uncovered for inclusion on this web site.  [Information requested.]

 

  Never Hoppen [2196] 19BG-28BS (circa 11/51) A formation of B-29s heads toward the target when suddenly, a lovely girl in a bikini appears before them, reclining on the soft down of a fluffy cumulus.  Yeah, sure--NEVER HOPPEN! To see Never Hoppen in action <CLICK HERE>   It’s Hoppen, not Happen because--well, there were a couple of interpretations of its use in the local lingo.  Some believe it was used in the "market place," mostly by young Okinawan women in response to bargain hunting GIs.   EXAMPLE,  GI: "I'll give a dollar for that pearl necklace."    SYT: "Never hoppen, GI." (Oh yeah . . .)  The stages photos at the bottom indicate a degree of censorship that crews were subjected to.  Although the rumor persists that this was the work of an overly prudish Base Commander’s wife, there is no evidence that this is true.  It is also extremely doubtful that a Base Commander could dictate policy to bomber command.

 

Night Affair [7649] 98BG: Mike Kloppenburg wrote, "[Photo was found nose art calendar, and] the caption reads, 'Night Affair was one of the many 98th BG B-29 Superfortresses painted by the Japanese artist nicknamed "Rembrandt". These Korean War bombers carried some of the best creations of the conflict, in large measure due to the size of the canvas. M H Havelaar.'"

 

  Night-Mare! [7661] 19BG-28BS:  Another version of  “Lena the Hyena.”  See American Beauty, Koza Kid, and UGG-LY. [Information requested.]

 

  Nip On Nees [2261] 98BG-344BS: There appears to be three different B-29 tail numbers with this name--with variations in spelling.  Nipponese means Japanese—but (as associated with a lot of nose art) there was a joke at the time that used a play on the word with the American slang, “nip.”  The pictured crewmember is 1/Lt T.M. Sullivan (son), navigator on the Nip, 1951-52.  [Terry Sullivan's beautiful model of Nip On Nees]

  Nip-Pon-Ese [1617] 98BG: Before being assigned to the 98BG, Nip Pon flew combat missions with the 92BG, but probably without this particular nose art. Note the slobbering wolf to the left below the turret—exemplifying the meaning of “nip” (see "Nip" above).  Joe Savko points out that there were about a half dozen aircraft named "Nipponese," with variations, in both WW2 and Korea. Nip Pon was later renamed Pride of Brooklyn.

  “No Name 1” [1876] 98BG [Information requested.]

 

  “No Name 2” [UNK] 98BG: The lady resembles Al Capp’s Daisy Mae, but was actually on an Alberto Vargas pinup portrait of Shelly Winters, painted for a movie promotion.  It was the same pose and outfit Vargas had used for a Hedy Lamarr portrait during WWII, while he worked with MGM (thanks to Heather Foster). 

 

  “No Name 3” [UNK] 98BG [Information requested.]

 

  No Sweat [7618] 19BG-30BS: (Earlier version) “No Sweat” alludes to a phrase popular at the time.  A “no sweat” mission was one without much danger of being shot down.  A “no sweat” girl was one who apparently offered no danger of –well, being “shot down.”  The young ladies of New Koza, a village adjacent to Kadena AFB, were fond of leaning out of windows and calling out, “No sweat, GI.”  This "No Sweat" did not live up to its name.  On 12 April 1951, No Sweat had two engines and its hydraulic system taken out by AAA and MiG-15s.  It was forced to crash land at Seoul Municipal Airport where it was salvaged (junked).  The lucky crew escaped without loss.  Scuttlebutt has it that this original version of No Sweat was destroyed when an F-51 crashed into it while taking off from the Seoul airport.

 

  No Sweat [0134] 19BG-93BS: (Later version) Bud Farrell has chronicled the history of this aircraft and the Korean War era in amazing detail in his excellent book titled, "No Sweat."    Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of No Sweat.

 

  Old Grandma [9909] 98BG-345BS: No Photo. [Information requested.]

 

  Old Wild Goose [9771] 98BG-345BS: No Photo. (Harper) [Information requested.]

  On Call [UNK] 2ARS-Flight D: After World War II, 16 B-29 bombers were converted to air–sea rescue duty and redesignated SB-29 Super Dumbo. The SB-29 served through the Korean War and into the mid-1950s. According to the newspaper clipping showing this aircraft, an SB-29, was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), Air Rescue Service (ARS).  ARS engaged in direct support missions for all UN Forces in Korea. (Bright).  Bill Gaddes wrote, "I took the photo at Misawa on 15 March 1951 . . . Aircraft is unusual as it has all turrets except lower forward. Listings for SB-29s claim they have all turrets removed. Ain’t so. I was a tail gunner (only gunner) . .  . Flew on all 16 WB-29’s in 512th (56th) from October of 1950 through May of 1952. The most interesting missions (special) were nuke 'sniffing' over China. We had to wear summer “class A” uniforms (complete) under our flight suits." (Gaddes)

  Our Baby [UNK] 98BG: Also Come On “A” My House (above) [Information requested.]

 

  Our Gal [UNK] 19BG-28BS: (c. 11/51) There is no doubt that the prevailing icon of 19th BG Korean War era nose art was the scantily clad young lady.   If the crews had been allowed, some would have dropped the "scantily clad" part entirely.   A few tried (see Hot To Go), but were usually shot down before they left the ground.  Early on, Our Gal was also “unclad.”   To view & review Aeromaster’s beautiful 28BS decals, including Our Gal’s nose art (clad & unclad), click here for ModelingMadness.com.  The bottom photo is a 28BS group shot.

 

  Our Gal [1932] 98BG-343BS: Yokota AFB, Japan. Capt. Melvin Manley’s crew is pictured after returning from a mission.  You can read more about Our Gal and see a photo taken twenty minutes before it was shot down on Max Nelson’s excellent web site. Our Gal was shot down on 10/24/1951 by a MiG-15 piloted by Lt. Col. Aleksandr P. Smorchko.  Eight of the eleven-man crew were rescued and seven survived.  Although injured, Manley survived the bailout and was rescued in the Sea of Japan by a South Korean mine sweeper.

 

  Our L’Lass [1951] 91SRW-91SRS:  Common theme, but doesn’t the lass look a bit young?
 This nose art appears to have been painted on two different B-29s, perhaps copied after the first
retired.  Same serial number as Over Exposed (below).

  Outlaw, The [5306] 19BG-28BS:  (circa 11/51): The beautiful lady is Jane Russell, star of the Howard Hughes 1941 movie by the same name.  The Outlaw, the first “Sex Western,” was originally banned by US censors & was not released to the American public until the late 40s. The original WW II "Outlaw" arrived in the Pacific piloted by General Curtis LeMay.  However, there is no known connection between the two Outlaws.  This Outlaw lived up to her name when number one engine failed during takeoff and the plane crashed--with me in the right seat.  To read about the crash, <click here>  To see photos of  the wreck, <click here>  You can also check out the movie posters of the bombshell, Miss Russell, <here>

 

   Over Exposed [1951] 91SRW- 91SRS: To what?  Flak?  MiGs?  This was an F-13, photo recon version of the B-29, recognizable by the IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) antenna & camera port under bombardier’s position.  Perhaps the film, as well as the SWT are overexposed. “Exposed” has the same serial number as Our Lil’ Lass.

 

   “Over Exposed” [1813] 55SRW-31SRS: The quotation marks version of Over Exposed
 was battle-damaged by MiGs and crashed. Tom Mitchell provided the following:
 “The pilot was my father, Robert A. Mitchell #A0834092 …killed with…three other crew 
members, in the crash upon approach to Johnson AFB, Japan.  (This) was the first (B-29) to be 
attacked and crash as the result of the attack. Harry Lavene (the tail gunner) survived…and (on 
Nov. 9, 1950) was credited with the first MiG kill by a B-29 gunner in the war.” Capt. Robert E.
 Laden was the aircraft commander. [FULL STORY] [KORWALD report]
Recon versions of the B-29 were fitted with remotely operated aerial cameras that shot out the
 side of the aircraft. One of their frequent missions was to fly to the Yalu and take pictures of the
 MiG bases on the other side. [Nolan Strange (D)]
 
Paddy Daddy [2034] 57WRS: Bill Gaddes wrote: ". . . "Paddy Daddy" [was] from 512th Strat.
 Recon Sqdn (medium) Weather [and] nose art was done at Misawa AFB in late 1950.

 

  Pa-Pa-San’s Parasites [3934] 98BG: Submitted by Terrell Perkins, Papa-San generally connotes someone who is older, a father figure.  However, Joe Savko pointed out that “Pa-Pa” has a religious connotation (Pope), which is supported by the pendant cross.  Ironically, Pa-Pa carries a bomb in his right wing, a bottle under his left.  “Parasites” suggests that the crew doesn’t exactly share Pa-Pa’s devotion.  They are arrayed and attached completely around him, probably relative to their crew stations on the airplane—all of this tongue in cheek, of course.  Joe also pointed out that the barracks in the bottom photo indicate that the photo was taken in the ZI, probably prior to its overseas assignment—although the worn lettering in “FORCE” may indicate otherwise.

 

   Peace Maker [6433] 19BG-30BS:(circa 11/51):  The unpainted underbelly indicates that this is possibly a later rendition of the one below.  Loyd Keith and his ground crew are shown in the photo.  This is also listed as a 98BG aircraft. (Unreliable data)

 

  Peace Maker [6433] 92BG-325BS: Most nose art fell under the heading of double-entendre.  The word or phrase name of the airplane would have a double meaning and the second meaning was often risqué.  Peace Maker is a prime example.  Interpretations of secondary meanings were usually up to the observer to determine.  Clearly, one purpose behind a lot of nose art was to tick off the brass and quite often it succeeded (see Dixie Babe, above).

 

  Peace on Earth [1790] 92BG-326BS: Could be this is a satire on the “Miss America Pageant" where SYTs are prone to say that peace on earth is their ardent desire.  Piece on Earth below is a play on this same theme, what we might call today, an “adult” version.  Earlier WW II nude version appears to be more to the point.

 

  Peak of Perfection [2173] 98BG: [Information requested.]

  Peek of Perfection [2173] 98BG-345BS: Same serial number as Peak of Perfection  Wayne Hembree, right gunner on Capt. Bradford’s crew, wrote: " ... A/C 2173 Peek of Perfection, July 1952 to Jan 1953. When we arrived in July 52 they were just starting to paint the bellies of the 29's with black paint, since we had switched to mostly night missions. (We did fly one day mission, which was led by Gen. LeMay, and it was a "no sweat" mission  ...) When we received 2173 (in August) there was no nose art, having been painted over in black. Our left gunner and radio op took on the task of getting new nose art painted. They chose a Petty Girl body with Marilyn Monroe's head ... painted by the Japanese artist, The crew chief told us of the prior name and just for fun we changed ours from Peak of, to Peek of Perfection ... some time later in '52, a (visiting) congresswoman demanded all nose art be removed. Some of us painted it over with watercolor, but ... we eventually all lost our nose art. We completed our tour in January ‘53 with only one causality, our navigator Lt. Bird, who was shot down and lost flying with Capt. Sawyers crew ... (Force for Freedom, The Legacy of the 98th, pgs 94 to 96). The rest of us caught a MATS flight home, with no seats, and we were very happy to be heading home.

  Persuade Her [6316] 19BG-28BS (circa 1950) Play on the word persuader.  Double (sometimes triple & more) meanings were par for nose art.  Jim Fair wrote, “ The AC was Rummel (and) I was right gunner. I also flew on the plane that carried the Tarzon bomb and was on the mission when Col Jennings went down.  We were trying to knock out a dam and the target was socked in.  The Colonel went below the clouds to find the target (and) may have iced up or been hit with ground fire.”  Jim also recalled, “On (another) mission we were hit by MiGs near the Yalu, landed at K2, a fighter base, and tore up the metal runway. While we were taxiing, some Colonel in a jeep was shaking his fist at us.  From K2 we went to Itazuke, and Rummel went to the Officers club, jumped up on a table and used some nasty words at the fighter pilots for not giving us cover.”  Click here to see Dick Pittard's great color photos of "Persuade Her" and the 28BS in action.

 

  Phippens Pippens [6290] 98BG:  Also named “Baby San” (above) [Information requested.]

 

  Piece on Earth [7329] 301AREFS: Tanker. Jim Webb wrote, "In February 1952, the 301st AREFS sent five of their KB-29Ms ...  to the United Kingdom to be modified by Flight Refueling, Ltd. from the long hose refuelers to the probe and drogue style used for fighters. They returned to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana on 08 March 1952. Then the same five crews departed Barksdale on 18 March 1952 to FEAF for the Korean War. Their aircraft had red and white diagonal stripes on the nose gear doors and tail fin along with a large Square A on the tail. They started modifying their nose gear doors with tail numbers in January 1952 when they received some aircraft from Roswell AFB, NM with those markings. The stripes on 301st AREFS aircraft were [narrower] than the 43rd's stripes." This aircraft was detached to the 421st at Yokota.  “Peace” has become “Piece,” as in “She’s a nice piece . . .”  The map depicts the Pacific theater or operations with Japan somewhat exaggerated. 

 

  Police Action [6295] 98BG-345BS: “Police Action” was Harry Truman’s euphemism for the Korean War.  Evidence suggests that this aircraft was later reassigned to the 307BW where the nose art was removed. It flew its final mission as Baker Lead on the Black Tuesday mission. 10/23/1951, was shot up and crash landed at Kimpo. The navigator was killed in action and Bill Reeter, the aircraft commander, received the Silver Star for his extraordinary valor in action.

 

  Pride of Brooklyn: Leo the Lion [1617] 92BG: Fifty-seven years after the fact, it's rare to receive detailed information such as that contained in the Air Force Times article depicted below Tom Blount's crash photos. Although the unknown author of the article made exceptional use of his "poetic license," we learn that the Pride nose art was occasioned by the crew's Radar Operator, Lt. Leo Freedman, a graduate of the Brooklyn Law School.  Pride crashed on 9 September 1950 while attempting an emergency landing on Miho AFB's short runway. The crash resulted in two injuries and no loss of life. (Wayne Reece)

 

 Punch Bowl Queen: [0379] UNK: Not sure what inspired this nose art. The young lady in the punch bowl seems to be toasting the onlookers. Mike Gurr, who emailed the photos seen here, says his dad (Bob) claims to have not looked at the lady.

 

  Purple Shaft [5361] 19BG--93BS:  A common phrase to indicate that what you received was not the best deal the Air Force had to offer.  In other words, you got The Purple Shaft.  There is also little doubt that the origin of this phrase is rooted (no pun intended) in phallic symbolism; however, like the words jazz and screw, took on a more general meaning as its usage spread and became more popular.  The name is also indicative of the resentment many veteran crewmembers felt after being recalled to fight a "police action," having already served so gallantly in WW II.

 

  Rapid Rabbit [1776] 98BG-343BS: On April Fool’s Day, 1952, Rabbit suffered multiple engine failure while over enemy territory on their way to the secondary target, forcing the crew to bail out.  Luckily, all eleven crewmembers were rescued. KORWALD

 

  Raz 'N Hell [1535] 19BG-28BS: The only B-29s on this list accounted for and still looking good—thanks to Kim Comeau and the restoration crew @ the Castle Air Museum (Merced, CA).  Kim was instrumental in the restoration of the nose art, and wrote that Khaki is the name of the Indian warrior head displayed by the 28th squadron.  Tim Terrell shared the following: The pilot, Ed Bradfield of Rockville, IN. told Tim that Raz’N Hell was likely the only B-29 to shoot-out one of it's own engines during the Korean War. He said maintenance forgot to replace the barrel-stops on one of the top-turrets. During the mission, they were to expend ammunition before returning. One of the crew (not a gunner) wanted to shoot the guns.  He swiveled the turret and promptly shot-out their #2 engine when the guns depressed farther than they should have, due to the missing stops.  Tim later modeled Raz 'N Hell with it's #2 engine shot-up and prop feathered, wheels down and preparing to land after this mission.  Tim also provided this: “On the left-side nose of B-29A Raz'N Hell are rows of colored bombs representing each mission flown.  Most are black--no action. Some are Red-- encountered MIGs or flak over target. One bomb was painted GREEN--perhaps the mission where they shot-out their own #2 engine?”  The photo of the left side of the Castle Raz N' Hell restoration presented a mystery that was solved by Bob Mann.  The serial number stenciled in the aircraft data block is 44-70064, which is not the correct serial number for Raz N' Hell.  Bob wrote: "I show 70064 as being a WW II 19BG plane - Black Square M 39 . . . the art on the right side [of] Raz'n Hell was applied from photos of the original art at the Castle Air Museum.  That airplane is a composite of parts from four planes and it is quite possible that the nose is indeed 44-70064."

 

 Ready Willin Wanton [2106] 98BG: The lady is not just ready, willing & able, she’s “wanton.” There are several meanings for the word “wanton:” 1. Immoral or unchaste; lewd. 2.a. Gratuitously cruel; merciless. b. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust: wanton destruction. The crew was probably thinking of them all when they named her.

 

  Reddy [5275] 22BG-19BS: My guess is that someone who flew 275, probably the aircraft commander, had the last name, Reddy.  This would have provided a reddy-made double-entendre.  She's ready, the plane's ready; I'm Reddy.  Most nose art had several layers of meaning. Bill Nist, whose father shipped out with the 22BG from March AFB, has provided a wealth of information about 275: "[Reddy] was based at Kadena from July through October 1950 [and] flew as the [squadron] lead aircraft. The crew chief was M Sgt. Joseph Sweeney, who also painted Reddy when the professional artist making the rounds at Kadena was unable to paint her . . . Reddy was the slowest plane in the squadron, and as such, she took off first for obvious reasons.  The joke that went with that honor was that if she got airborne, then they knew every one else should also." To read Bill's history of Reddy, click here.

 

  Reluctant Drag’on, The [2253] 98BG-345 BS: Troy Wade emailed: “My father, Robert B. Wade was the aircraft commander.  The co-pilot was Lt. Dick Johnson.” At least one other crew, commanded by Capt Bert Charlson, flew Drag'on.  Don Hallock completed his first combat tour in December 1951 on a lead crew assigned to this aircraft.  This also appears to be only one of a few B-29s that also sported tail art.

 

  Reserved [1927] 98BG: Similar to Any Time. A recently added photo, courtesy of Larry Hanvey, reveals that a notation in the lady's little black book reveals that she is "reserved" for a very lucky "Crew R-3."

 

  Rock Happy [UNK] 19BG-93BS: Goes along with the prevalent use of irony in nose art.  Just as American Beauty is not beautiful, the fellow here is anything but happy.  Put another way, he is happy in the same way the inmates of an insane asylum are "happy."  Okinawa, like most islands in the Pacific was nicknamed "Rock."   So was (and still is) Alcatraz.  Today, Okinawa is anything but a "rock," and the bombed out, habu-infested Kadena we knew has become known as the "Country Club of the Pacific." Records indicate that this was an earlier version of Cat Girl, listed above.

 

  Rough Roman [9818] 19BG-28BS: (later became Star Duster) [Information requested.]

 

  SAC Mate [UNK] 22BG-33BS: A fellow Strategic Air Command crewmember or one who shared your bed (sack). [Information requested.]

 

  SAC Queen [6418] 301AREFS: Tanker, Again, a play on SAC (sack). See Piece on Earth for more details.

 

  SAC’s Appeal [1972] 98BG: Also Ace In The Hole.  SAC (as everyone who reads this probably already knows) was the acronym for Strategic Air Command.

 

  SAD SAC (T.D.Y.) [1676] 98BG-343BS: One of two with same name, different outfit, different nose art. Sad Sack was a GI cartoon character popularized during WW II.  The spelling difference is an obvious reference to SAC (Strategic Air Command). TDY stands for “temporary duty.”   This later Sad Sack is truly sad.  His service stripes may offer a clue to why he is not happy to be going into another one.   Click for one of Max Nelson's great photos of SAD SAC on combat bombing run moments before MiGs attack.

 

  SAD S*A*C*(F.O.B. N.K.) [UNK] 22BG-33BS: This earlier Sad Sack is pulling a bomb marked for free shipment to North Korea, and seems relatively happy about doing it.

 

  Salem Witch [1533] 91SRW-91SRS:  You could say this is a “literary” theme, but it is probably more likely that the aircraft commander was from Salem, Mass. once noted for its witch trials.  This witch rides a broom and wears a body suit as well as buckle shoes from the witch era.

 

  Schlimeil of Fortune [7268] No Photo.  Same aircraft as Sophisticated Bum.  In Yiddish, a schlimazel is someone who suffers constant misfortune.  "Schlimel," a variant, coupled with Fortune is a contradiction of terms.  It also echoes "Wheel of Fortune," of the Las Vegas type, not the "wheel" that made Vanna famous.

 

  September Song [9746] 98BG-343BS: A popular song (Jimmy Durante) suggestive of “being over the hill” (by the Korean War, most B-29s were).  The depicted nose art appears to a slightly rotated replica of Tom Kelley's famous Marilyn Monroe calendar art pose (#2).  In WW II, 44-69746 was named Booze Hound, and at the onset of the Korean War served with the 22BG as Charlie's Wagon. [Savko]

 

  Shack Rabbit [3934] 98BG-343BS: A.K.A. Undecided.  “Shack” was another word with several different meanings.  A “shack” was a direct hit with a bomb, but it also meant to stay overnight, usually with a SYT.

 

   Shady Lady [5357] 98BG:  After being heavily damaged by flak & MiGs Lady was returned to the states, overhauled & sent to the 19th BG. and became Double or Nothin’.  It was shot down on 29 January, 1953 near Pyongyang.

 

  Sheer Madness: Abortin’ Norton and his Malfunction Ten [1948] 98BG: This lengthy name suggests that the A/C was Norton and someone who may have had a reputation for aborting numerous missions, possibly because a crewmember screwed up. There is also the suggestion that to go against MiGs in a B-29 may be, in fact, "sheer madness."  Perhaps this is the Korean War version of the B-17, The Leper Colony, in the 1949 film “Twelve O’clock High?” (Great movie, BTW)  If you know the real story on Sheer Madness, please let me have it.

 

  Sheeza Goer! [7278] 22BG-2BS: Lowell Thompson wrote, "The AC or pilot of 278 was a Lt. Deaton.  My dad's good friend, Charles "Chuck" Farber, was a gunner on SHEEZA GOER! Chuck had a '49 Cadillac that had many officers green with envy.  He became a boom operator in KC-97's and KC-135's, just as my Dad did after the B-29s were retired in October 1, 1952."

 

  SHINPAINAI [2218] 98BG: Literally, "Don’t worry."  What is there to worry about with this Marilyn Monroe look-alike--or shouldn't we go there?  The other meaning is, of course, not to worry about MiGs and flak--or an airplane that may not always function as advertised.

 

  Short Time Only [9951] 301AREFS:  Tanker. "Short timers" were those getting ready to “rotate” back to USAjima, many returning to jobs and families they’d been forced to give up to go to war.  “Short time” also had another connotation (loosely translated), “you only get what you paid for.”  This was Dave Hall’s father’s first plane.  It was heavily damaged (especially in engine #3), and the pilot landed in South Korea where it was determined that the plane was too costly to repair. The original art work was undoubtedly too racy for the brass to endure, so the lady was dressed and the money removed. See Piece on Earth for more details.

 

  Shutterbug [1817] 91SRW-91SRS: A recon version (RB-29) that flew missions out of Yokota, c. 1951.  Later, the aircraft became AH Sooooooooo.

 

  Sic’ Em [1809] 98BG:  Ed Stinger’s photo reveals the name of the copilot, Earl Anderson, one of my cadet classmates who also survived the forgotten war.  Notice the inscription that both pilots are on temporary duty from the Texas Air Force.  Bruce Bergman was told the following by his Uncle Vin:  Prior to the mission Sic’ Em was parked away from other group B-29s.  The crew boarded, but left the bomb bay doors open for 30 minutes before taxiing out and taking off.  After three hours, they opened the doors, left them open awhile, then returned to base. Much later, Bruce’s uncle learned they’d dropped off a spy while off the North Korean coast. 

 

  SIT'N'GIT [1816] 307BW: This, Hawg Wild, and My Assam Dragon are the only examples of 307BW nose art that I've seen.  The excellent reference book, Gary M. Valant's Classic Vintage Nose Art, depicts what is probably the original Sit N Git, a twin-engine Martin B-26 in WW II.  "Sit," as you can see by the pilot's position, is a variant of the intended word.  The phrase was used to describe a bomb run through heavy flak, as depicted.  In other words, they did not loiter to see what happened afterwards.  Although my research is incomplete, SIT’N’GIT could have been Able Flight lead aircraft (without the nose art) on the Black Tuesday mission.  Although 816 made it back to Kadena, records indicate that it was a loss.  Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of SIT N’ GIT.

.

 

  Skivvy Girl [4022] 98BG:  A “skivvy” person was one who was never quite true to another individual.  Like a butterfly, a skivvy girl would have several lovers, sometimes during the same evening.  Probably a variation of “skippy.”  According to a Google source, during the Vietnam War, “skivvy house” was a common name for a house of ill repute.

 

  Slick Chick [1874] 98BG: Apparently the same airplane as Slica Chica. [Information requested.]

 

  Slicka Chicka [4906] 98BG: Might or might not be same B-29 as Slick Chick. The two ladies are identical, suggesting that a replacement crew, perhaps to reflect the Italian roots of one or more crewmembers, renamed the airplane.

 

  Slow Freight 4th [1834] 98BG: The opposite of Haulin' Ass. [Information requested.]

 

   Snake Bit [6390] 98BG-343BS: A person who is “snake bit” has nothing but bad luck.  The art, however, is somewhat abstract.  The question mark with arms and legs hurls a bomb and lightning bolts at the unseen foe, suggesting that it is the enemy who will be bitten by the snake.  Same four numbers as Trouble Brewer.

 

  Snoopy Droopy [1817] 54WRS: A weather recon aircraft.  While stationed on Guam it was probably a “hurricane hunter--” except that in the Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons, which are relatively common and often devastating. Many of the worst typhoons form to the south of Guam. Bill DeVoe, was Snoopy’s crew chief.

 

  Snugglebunny [9667] 98BG:  [Information requested.]

 

  Society Leader [UNK] 98BG: Lil’ Abner’s no-nonsense mother, Mammy Yokum, is about to take charge.  She taught her children that "good is better than evil because it's nicer."

 

  Soft Touch [4080] Someone who is an “easy mark” is generally a “soft touch.” [Information requested.]

 

  Sophisticated Bum [7268] 421ARS-DET4-43ARS: Name was changed after crew change (no photo). This aircraft was a tanker conversion, salvaged at Yokota on 9/1/54. 

 

  So Tired (Seven to Seven) [1727] 91SRW-91SRS: T/Sgt (USAF) Kevin P. O’Neal writes: The plane was shot down by a MIG-15 on July 4th, 1952 and 11 of the 13 crewmembers were taken (prisoner.)  TSgt Albright and one other were KIA.  TSgt Alright was a resident of Clovis (NM).  I'm doing research in the hopes that the local chapter of the Air Force Sergeants Association will be named in his honor.  (If you have any other information on TSgt Albright or this mission, please e-mail me.  To learn more about So Tired, <click here>.

 

  Southern Comfort [1749] 19BG-30BS: A popular whiskey during the Korean War era, and apparently still a hit with the younger set.  But wait a minute--where’s the bottle?  Apparently there were two copies of Southern Comfort.   The photo was taken later than the KORWALD crash loss date of 11-7-50. To view & review Aeromaster’s beautiful 19BG decals, including “Comfort’s” nose art, click here for ModelingMadness.com.

 

  Southern Comfort [1810] 91SRW-91SRS: This RB-29 was shot down by Soviet fighters on 13 June 1952. (Bard)

 

  South Sea Sinner [3971] 19BG-28BS: When the Korean War broke out, Dick Pittard was the flight engineer on Lou Mallory’s crew, stationed on Guam.  They flew Sinner to Kadena and subsequently on 59 combat missions—about twenty more than the average number later in the war. Dick’s was the first crew to rotate to the ZI (Zone of Interior is military jargon for “United States”). You can see Dick’s name under the engineer’s window in the large photo.  Donald "Pete" Petrovich was a left gunner on Sinner.  This nose art was one of the most artistically rendered and would surely be a hit in any art exhibition for combat weary troops.  Sinner has also been immortalized in the hobby model airplane industry.  To view & review Aeromaster’s beautiful 28BS decals, including Sinner’s nose art, click here.

 

  Space Mistress [6316] 98BG-344BS: [Information requested.]

 

  Spirit of Freeport Long Island [2060] 22BG:  Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of Spirit of Freeport.

 

  Spittin Kittin [3380] 98BG: [Information requested.]

 

  Squeeze Play [6415] 98BG-343BS: In baseball, a squeeze is a play where the batter attempts to bunt so the runner on third base may score.  In a broader context it has come to mean that pressure is being applied to achieve one goal at the expense of another.  But wait!  What does a lady at a washing machine have to do with either?   Take a closer look—and think back to an expression popular at the time, especially with the military: “Don’t get your tit caught in a wringer.”  Which meant: Don’t get yourself squeezed in a bad way trying to do something that may not be possible—or something like that.  At any rate, there are no more wringers on washers so the term has gone out of use.  On the 19 September 1951, on a leaflet-dropping mission, #6415 was caught in the ultimate squeeze play.  It ditched in Sea of Japan and the extensive rescue effort failed to find any survivors.

 

  Star Duster [9818] 19BG-28BS:  (circa 1952), (Originally Rough Roman): Apparently just a pretty, lightly clad girl.  Named because most of the missions were flown at night.  Note the white sidewall nose wheel, popular on automobiles in the fifties. Star Duster crashed in weather on 07/07/1953 while attempting a landing at K-3.

 

  Stateside Reject [2152] 19BG-93BS:  A pejorative that was sometimes used in reference to certain persons who voluntarily elected to be stationed on Okinawa.  (How's that for being politically correct?)  The phrase, of course, also refers to the airplane being somewhat less than sterling.  While we often tend to think of the B-29 in loving, nostalgic terms, the truth was that she had more than a fair share of wicked traits.  The engines and propellers were particularly subject to fires and over speeding (runaway props).  Perhaps that is what happened to Stateside Reject when it crashed on takeoff from Kadena.

 

  Stinger Queen [0041] 98BG: Lt. John Zieser, like so many reservists who had served in WWII, was called up and eventually wound up the radar operator (RO or VO) on Stinger Queen.  His son (also John) wrote that his father once said that the Nose Art and his "window" were not on the plane very long because an AF directive came out that authorized only tail numbers and insignia to be painted on the black planes.

 

  Sucoshi Ni! [9812] 98BG-345BS: There are two Sucoshi nose art paintings.  The other can be viewed by scrolling down on Sally Ann’s nose art page. Mike Sawyer clarified the Japanese meaning with the following: "Sucoshi ni" is Japanese, but should be spelled "sukoshi ni." You are correct, "sukoshi" is "little." "Ni" could mean "to" or "toward." In this context, "sukoshi ni" would probably mean "just a little bit more." The airman in the photo is identified as “Dave.”  See also Fry’In Pan.

 

  Sun Bonnet King  [1815] 91SRW-91SRS (No Photo): 10/07/1952 (scroll down). See also Daijobu  and Moon's Moonbeam.  Shot down on USSR Ferret Mission. No survivors

 

  Sure Thing [9999] 19BG-30BS: In his December '07 E-mail, Jack Overby (copilot on "Sure Thing") filled in the missing blanks.  Jack wrote, "We got to Okinawa and the 30BS in May 1951 and left in January 1952. We flew a total of 42 combat missions during that time. We were assigned aircraft 44-69999 and we named it "Sure Thing". The nose art was an attractive, scantily clad girl with a poker hand displayed with an ace and four nines." Jack speculated that the crew after them named it Four of a Kind.  Sure Thing has several layers of meaning besides the obvious poker connotation.  A "sure thing" also referred to a SWT who was always expected to cooperate, as (undoubtedly) the crew hopefully expected of their airplane.

 

   Sweet Judy II [1721] 98BG-345BS: Dale Massie sent the photos and wrote, "The one with MAY 1951 on the front says (on back of photo), 'This plane belongs to another crew. We flew it while they were on rest leave. That's Col. Miller, our C.O. with Bert. Don't know what the hell Pat (Don Hallock's nickname) is looking at. We put the 78th mission on it. What a name for a plane.'  The … TALLY HO (photo)…., 'Ready to deliver our regards to the Reds. I shall remember this mission always. Results: KV-00-but it wasn't easy. All planes returned. A few MiGs didn't return.' I believe he was sending these to my mother . . . telling her how things were going with his notes. I think the mission on this plane was their very first one over North Korea . . .Pyongyang, 27 May 1951."

 

  Tail Wind [1721] 98BG-345BS: See also Burke’s Jerks. [Information requested.]

 

  Target Tonite [0007] 19BG-93BS:  Salvaged at Kadena AFB, 6/27/54, reason unknown. [Information requested.]

 

  [Tarzon1] [UNK] 19BG-93BS: Unable to identify either nose art name or tail number.  All we know for sure is that this is not Lucifer or 45-21749. [Information requested.]

 

  TDY Widow/ [6335] 98BG-343BS:  TDY referred to “Temporary DutY.”  In the Air Force, temporary meant “six months or less.”  Any airman would have told you that the only purpose behind TDY was to save the AF money.  In other words, the airman went “unaccompanied.”  The left-behind wife was nicknamed, “TDY Widow.”   The Ed-Fitzpatrick crew photo is an early version of the Widow that also had Miss Tampa-X painted on the port side of the nose.  After receiving battle damage on 1 June, 1951, 6335 was transferred to the 19th where it became Had a Call.)

 

  T.D.Y. Widow II [1537] 98BG-343BS: T.D.Y. widows were wives whose Air Force husbands were on Temporary Duty away from home. The nose art on II is virtually the same as the later 6335 Widow, which suggests that the assigned crew had it painted on their replacement aircraft.

 

  That’s "It" [UNK] 19BG-28BS: At the time, the "IT" girl would have been Clara Bow, but she wasn't blonde and was past her prime. This babe more closely resembled Jean Harlow, the "IF" girl, AKA "the blonde bombshell."  Or the word it could be a generic term, as in "getting it."

 

  Tiger Lil [4000] 91SRW-91SRS: Jim Bard wrote: "Aircraft shot up by MiGs over Sea of Japan seven miles from the coast of Japanese territory; fifteen miles from Soviet controlled Kurile Islands on 7 November 1954. Second Lt. Sigfredo Angulo, navigator, from Los Angeles CA drowned after bailing out; ten men (remainder of crew) survived a crash landing." [DETAILS] - Click to view Mark Styling’s beautiful painting of Tiger Lil.

 

  Toddlin’ Turtle [UNK] 22BG: Turtle was an early arrival in the Korean War, rushed to Kadena to fly combat in the summer of 1950.  Among the munitions being dropped on the target is a jug of moonshine and assorted UFOs (Unidentified Falling Objects).  Note the tent city in the background.

 

  To Each His Own [2207] 98BG-344BS:  Also a popular song title.  Dick Truso served as left gunner on To Each His Own from Oct '51 to April '52. The aircraft later Crash-landed at K-2 on 9 June 1952. [KORWALD Report]

 

  Tondemonai [2237] 98BG: Mike Sawyer wrote: “Tondemonai could have several meanings, take your pick: 'Bullsh*t,' 'outrageous,' 'impossible.' I've never heard it used to mean 'I don't know.' (that a previous viewer thought it meant).” Looking at the nose art, I'm inclined to go along with "impossible."  Crashed during take off on a test hop. See also “Eight Ball,” above.

 

  Top of the Mark [9763] 19BG-28BS: (circa 1951) The world famous Top of the Mark Skylounge is located on the 19th floor of the Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental at One Nob Hill, San Francisco, and offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the city and Bay Area.  Walter Bringsauf verified that if you showed your orders, the bar would give you a free drink from a bottle kept for that purpose.  But--if you took the last drink, you had to buy the next bottle.  Walter wrote, “A group of us that returned in Dec. ‘51 … had to buy the next bottle.  Was quite shocked at the price.  Luckily, a 5th AF civilian … helped us out since the group didn't have the price of the bottle between us.”  To view & review Aeromaster’s beautiful 28BS decals, including “Mark’s” nose art, click here for ModelingMadness.com.

 

  Touch and Go [7601] 301AREFS: Until I learned about this aircraft I didn’t realize there were aerial tankers during the Korean War.  The name has meaning on several levels.  Touch and go landings provided pilots with the practice necessary to maintain their proficiency.  More commonly, the phrase was used to indicate that the outcome was in question. The crew may have felt that it was “touch and go” that whatever was planned would succeed.  Lawrence Eckenroth provides still another meaning: "My father (deceased) Doyle J. Eckenroth . . . listed as one of the “Grease Monkeys” ... related the story of how the plane got its name.  He said the crew jokingly said that the pilot could never make a landing without bouncing several times before settling down on the runway, and that this “touch and go” manner was an appropriate name for the plane--besides, the name also had certain mischievous connotations.

 Do you see the hummingbird? See Piece on Earth for more details.

 

  Town Pump [7282] 301AREFS:  (A Mark Styling painting.)  Another tanker.  The name was also slang for a lady of local disrepute. See Piece on Earth for more details.

 

  Tremlin Gremlins [2188] 92BG-326BS:  I would have guessed that Tremlin was the aircraft commander and that each gremlin is a crewmember and I would have been wrong.  The aircraft commander was Richard H. Hoban.  They’re hard to make out, but the one in the transparent ball is surely the bombardier.  Another fires an ancient cannon while the seated gremlin flies a kite.  Gremlins, you may recall, are mythical characters that foul up the works.

 

  Trouble Brewer [6390] 98BG-343BS: Same four numbers as Snake-Bit."  Apparently this naked (except for the hat) young lady is looking into her crystal ball, conjuring up a brew of trouble for someone, hopefully the foe and not the crew.

 

  Typhoon Goon II [9770] 54WRS: Bob Mann writes, “The color picture … was taken by Ray Brashear… Operations Officer in the 54th WRS 1951-52.” Ironically, Typhoon Goon II was lost in a typhoon over the Philippines on 26 October, 1952. Cheryl Fontaine wrote, "My father, MSGT Edward H. Fontaine, was radio operator on that last flight.  It wasn't his normal duty, but he stepped in when his best friend became ill and took his place."

 

  UGG-LY [7661] 19BG-28BS: This appears to be the same artwork and airplane as American Beauty, Koza Kid, and Night Mare. [Information requested.]

 

  Undecided [3934] 98BG: More of that gorgeous Japanese artwork. Maybe they were undecided about the name? This B-29 was also named Shack Rabbit. [Information requested.]

 

  United Notions [2084] 92BG-325BS Similar theme to Where Next? (below). United Notions is a play on "United Nations," ostensibly the command running the south side of the Korean War. Notions, commanded by Capt Zane Hoit, was downed by **Sinanju AAA near Wolbong-ni, on 09/09/1950.  It took a hit in #2 engine, the wing folded, and five chutes were seen landing in fiery debris. The linked Life Magazine photo establishes that there was another United Notions, [7326].  The KORWALD Loss Reports and Life photo dates are, however, in conflict. 

**I flew seven missions to Sinanju, one targeting the airfield and six against the bridges. We would knock out a bridge and they would have it repaired or replaced the following day. In the far north, MiG Alley in particular, large river crossings were aided by a maze of bridges, some of them slightly submerged, therefore invisible from above and virtually impossible to "take out."  

 

  U. S. Mule, The [5272] 98BG-344BS: It’s a love letter, not a carrot, on the stick in front of
the mule’s nose. Don Voyles was a gunner on the crew that had U.S. Mule painted on the nose.
   Chet Domboski wrote: “As I arrived at Yokota they were busy taking the nose art off…” Chet 
was an engine mechanic in the 91st & 6091st, Apr 54-Apr56.  Mule was formerly a 19BG-30BS 
aircraft named Bluetail Fly (Savko).
 
  Vicious Roomer [2106] 98BG? : This particular B-29 previously served as Chief Mac's 10
 little Indians, Miss Yankee Doodle, and Ready Willin Wanton." While sporting the Ready Willin
 Wanton nose art, 2106 was returned to the states for an overhaul and when it returned; the name
 was changed to Vicious Roomer. (Hallock)

  Wanderer, The [2224] 92BG-325BS/98BG-345 BS: (circa 1950-1951) A bum chases butterflies are actually colonel’s eagles.  The “bum” is Lt. Col. Ralph Wanderer, apparently up for full colonel.   This nose art emphasizes the gap between the U.S. Army and Air Force rank structure.  Even L/Cs took good-natured ribbing from their crews.  Jim Peters, former member of the 325BS, writes, "Lt. Col.Wanderer, CO of the 326th and pilot on The Wanderer did not care for his CO ... he had a Japanese artist paint a Tramp chasing two butterflies with a net (Actually two Full Colonel’s insignia,) and even put a small outhouse in the lower right corner, with a couple of flowers and two flies or bees circling the outhouse.  The unveiling was accomplished one morning, with . . . anyone who could be rounded up (invited) ... (this was) before the 98th BG arrived at Yokota. Needless to say, Lt Colonel Wanderer was embarrassed (he had a very red face) at the unveiling, and ... was kidded about the artwork. ...  Lt Col Wanderer was insistent that The Wanderer would not be returned to the ZI, and apparently (it) was transferred to the 98th BG."  Carl Thomas, who submitted the photo of the unveiling, writes: My Dad was the radio operator on the 44-62224(The Wanderer) … unveiling, with Lt. Col. Wanderer shown in it. The Group is the 92nd BG, 325 BS, in Yokota, Japan in 1950 or 51. (Thomas)

 

  Where Next? [3992] 91SRW-91SRS: Where indeed?  The tags on the lass’s telephone cord read, from top to bottom, Panama, Bermuda, Azores, England, Germany, Hawaii, Kwajalien [sic], Guam, Japan, and Korea. Detective work by Collin Smith strongly suggests that this is an earlier version of Flak Shack, which crashed on 21 January, 1952. 

 

  Who’s Next [0019] 421ARS: Literally, to be serviced.  Who’s Next was a reel, hose, drogue & probe tanker conversion that refueled fighters in and about Korea while on detached service to the 421ARS, DET # 4 out of Yokota. Could this photo of Susan Hayward have been the inspiration for the artwork?

 

  Wild Goose, The [9668] 98BG-343BS: Some sources say this aircraft was once assigned to the 92nd. Records show that it was sent back to the U.S. for major overhaul and returned to the 345BS, 98BG where it was renamed ANDY'S DANDY—not listed herein, awaiting information. [Harper]

 

  Winchester 73-Red Raider [0073] 92BW-326BS: Winchester 73 was a popular movie, starring (General) Jimmy Stewart, and Red Ryder was an equally popular cowboy comic strip.  Who doesn’t remember the Red Ryder BB gun?  The model 1938, patterned after the Winchester 73, can still be purchased for around fifty bucks.  Ah, but it's Raider, not Ryder, and one can guess that "Red" also means "communist." Wayne Reece wrote, "B-29-75-BW-44-70073, had Mac’s Effort on the right side of cockpit. (I received a letter from Col William H Cooper, aka 'Big Coop,' who) designed the right side artwork and had a Japanese artist paint it . . . he took the cowboy from the ‘Red Ryder’ comic strip. The Winchester 73, his favorite rifle, matched the tail number so he added that (and) changed ‘Red Ryder’ to read 'RED RAIDER.'” Then Captain, William H. Cooper, the aircraft commander, flew 32 missions in the aircraft. [Reece]

 

  Wolf Pack [6340] 98BG: The wolf is an Air Force lieutenant and the running girl is a character from Al Capp’s Li’l Abner comic strip, aptly named “Wolf Gal.”

 

  Worry Bird, The [UNK]  92BG: This bird appears to have a lot to worry about.  In addition to having its tail shot off, the bird has to use a crutch to get around because of a gimpy foot, suggesting that the aircraft experienced combat damage to the tail section and landing gear.  It's also likely that its name was inspired by a 1951 song titled, "The Worry Bird," popular at the time. I'd originally pegged this as a WW II bird. Nolan "Big Red" Strange (D) set me straight by pointing out the letters "CE" in the upper left, noting that the United States Air Force did not come into being until after WW II.

 

   Wrights Delight’s, They Chosén Flew [6392] 98BG-345 BS: (Transferred form the 307th to the 98BG.)  My research turned up several variations, but the photo proves this is the correct name, including the accent mark above letter e in Chosén.  To begin with, my guess is that the crew commander’s name was Wright.  But “Delight’s” suggests there was more to it, perhaps referring to the Wright Brothers, who would be delighted with this crew’s performance, as well as the crew’s “delight’s” (possessive).  My assumption that “they” might have provided air support at “Frozen Chosin” was corrected by Joe Savko, who pointed out that Chosen (without the accent mark) means “Korea” in Japanese.  Like so many B-29s on this list, Wrights Delight’s was lost.  On November 19, 1952 while bombing a NK supply dump at Sonchon, it was damaged by MiG cannon fire.  As the 3rd flare was dropped, 20 search lights locked on the B-29.   Two minutes later, four bursts of MiG cannon fire hit #2 & #3 engines, setting them on fire.  Four parachutes were sighted at different inland locations and a flight of F-51s discovered a parachute hanging in a tree.  Wright's Delight crashed half a mile north of Cho-do Island.  Only two crewmembers survived. To read the chronological history of Wrights Delight’s, click here.

 

  ZE TAINT [1693] 22BG-2BS:  See also The Blue Tail Fly above. [Information requested.]

 

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