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Nose art painted by Sgt Eugene Townsend
301st Bomb
Group, 32nd Bomb Squadron
England, North Africa, Italy
SLICK CHICK B-17F-50-DL 42-3343
301st Bomb Group
32nd Bomb Squadron
This B17F arrived in North Africa in June 1943 and was assigned to the crew of
William Wofford. His crew flew a total of 51 missions, 360 combat hours, mostly
in "Slick Chick". "She took plenty of flak and bullet holes," he recalled. "Had one,
two and, once, three engines out but she brought us home every time." Over Weiner
Neustadt on 2nd November 1943, Wofford's "Slick Chick" not only lost one engine but
18 inches of horizontal stabiliser as well.
The plane and crew
transferred to Cerignola in Italy when the group redeployed. "Slick Chick continued to
fly missions after I left Cerignola," said Wofford, " and years later I tried to find
the Sergeant (Eugene Townsend) who painted that great pin-up painting of Rita Hayward.....
Either at St Donat or Oudnia we found the artist, a truck, a little vino and spent the day
admiring our special and personal B17. She was truly our plane and forever in
our memories." The lettering was yellow accented with black, the gown was white, the
sash red and hair jet black.
Wofford completed his 51-mission tour on 24th January 1944 but "Slick Chick" went on and
flew a total of 58 combat missions before being retired to become
a weather ship and utility aircraft for the group. Surviving the war, it is believed
to have crashed on the way back to the USA and declared salvage. A sad ending for a fine
combat veteran.
© Ray Bowden
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