USAAF Nose Art Research Project


 

Shilaylee
B-17G-35-BO 42-31987

100th Bomb Group, 349th Bomb Squadron

Appearance

Nose art painted by
Ernesto LOVATO
100th Bomb Group, 349th Bomb Squadron
Thorpe Abbotts, England

Shilaylee

Named and painted by Ernest Lovato as a tribute to his wife's Irish heritage. This extraordinary image depicted the traditional Irish cudgel with some dainty wings attached together with a decorative title. As if this was not noticeable enough, the main tyres were given a white-wall finish to ensure the plane stood out across the airfield and could easily be seen in the air on arrival back from a mission. It is thought to be the only B17 in the ETO to have been given the white-wall tyres.

In the original version the name was spelt the Irish way (Shillelagh) but no-one could pronounce it so Lovato amended it to an Americanised version.


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© Ray Bowden 30 November 2021
Plane Names & Fancy Noses Tales To Noses Over Berlin Merseburg: Blood, Flak & Oil Plane Names & Bloody Noses The Flight of Eagles  
Information Update for Readers of
"Plane Names & Fancy Noses - 91st Bomb Group (Heavy)"