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Nose art painted by Ann Haywood
Anerican Red Cross
Aero Club
385th Bomb Group, Great Ashfield, England
HOMESICK ANGEL B-17 42-107135 549th Squadron
Assigned to 549th squadron on 24th April 1944, "Homesick Angel"
was named by Robert Milligan who described the plane as "... easy to handle
and a dream to fly -- like a good woman!" The first painting showed a
more scantily clad figure which higher authority order to be covered.
This was an all too common cry with many nose art paintings. "Cover up or
clean off!" was the order of the day. Ann painted crew jackets with this design
which, full size on the side of the B17G, proved to be a colourful image
not easily missed.
Flak shot out two engines on 15th August 1944 over Munster. Attempting to reach the
North Sea, pilot Lt Rosener was forced to ditch prematurely into the Zuider
Zee. The crew scrambled into their dingies and were picked up by Dutch fishermen --
but later handed over to a German patrol boat. A replacement Fort at
Great Ashfield was named as "Angel's Sister".
© Ray Bowden
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