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Cpl Henry Johnson
500th Bomb Group, 882th Bomb Squadron
Isley Field, Saipan
My thanks to Jim Bowman for tracking down a photo of Cpl Johnson
Corporal Henry Johnson was assigned to the B29 equipped 500th Bomb
Group (Heavy) which deployed to Isley Field, Saipan in August 1944. He is believed
to have been a draughtsman on the roster of the 882nd Bomb Squadron.
His signature of "The Drowsy Swede" yields the only known information on Cpl Johnson
and if anyone can provide further details of him, his background or information
on any other aircraft he painted, I would be delighted to learn of it.
"By The Drowsy Swede" signature can be seen on several B29 Super Forts, "Constant
Nymph", "Fever from the South", "Homing De-Vice", "Pacific Queen", "The Leading Lady" and "Pride of the Yankees". He is also believed to have painted "Supine Sue", "American Beauty" and "Frisco Nanny".
His considerable skill enabled him to execute high quality artworks with almost perfect
duplicates of each nose art design on both sides of the aircraft.
© Ray Bowden
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