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Nose art painted by Sgt Frank Stevens
100th Bomb
Group (Heavy)
Thorpe Abbotts, England
OUR GAL SAL
B-17G 42-31767 351st Squadron
Frank Stevens painted the artwork for this B17G onto canvas which was
then glued onto the side of the plane producing one of the largest examples of
applique seen in airplane nose art. Once again, Stevens used his considerable skill
to produce a fine study of the female form dressed in the thinnest of swimsuits
to avoid a confrontation with the censors. The title had been based on the
popular movie starring Rita Hayworth -- one of the many GI pin-up stars of the era.
Arriving in January 1944, its first combat raid was on 3rd February. It went on to
complete more missions than any other Fort flown out of Thorpe Abbotts -- 135. More
than 500 crew men served in this plane before it was returned to the USA and ultimate
scrapping at Kingman, Az.
© Ray Bowden
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