USAAF Nose Art Research Project

Gooney Birds

The unsung heroes of WW2, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and its specialist paratroop partner the C-53, were the workhorses of the US Army Air Force. They were popularly known amongst the crews who flew and maintained them as "Gooney Birds". Not only did they fulfill the role of transporting troops and hauling vital supplies but they were also involved in all the major airborne assault operations of the war delivering paratroopers and pulling gliders, sometimes two at a time. These often over-looked transports flew unarmed and unarmoured, at low levels, through flak and small arms fire to deliver men, supplies and fuel. They provided medivac for casualties as well as clandestine missions to take in secret agents and bring out evaders from enemy territory.
Ace High

Ace High

C-47

Unknown

“Assigned to the 322nd Troop Carrier Wing”

 Ace of (Hearts)

Ace of (Hearts)

C-47

Unknown

 Ambulance Plane #1

Ambulance Plane #1

C-47-DL 42-32836

Unknown

 Angel in Blue

Angel in Blue

C-47

“Philippines based plane equipped for casualty evacuation”

 Arkansas Traveler

Arkansas Traveler

C-47A-70-DL 42-100670

436th Troop Carrier Group, 79th Troop Carrier Squadron

 Betts

Betts

C-47A-75-DL 42-100904

440th Troop Carrier Group

“Believed to have flown on D-Day”

 Big Snatch

Big Snatch

C-47

1st Air Commando

“1st Air Commando”

 Billie L.

Billie L.

C-47A

433rd Troop Carrier Group

 Bon-Bon

Bon-Bon

C-47

440th Troop Carrier Group

 Bouncin Bitch

Bouncin Bitch

C-47

314th Group

 Bucket of Bolts

Bucket of Bolts

C-47

435th Troop Carrier Group, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron

 Charlotte M

Charlotte M

C-47

Unknown

 Chattanooga Choo Choo

Chattanooga Choo Choo

C-53

 Cold Turkey Sucka

Cold Turkey Sucka

C-47

Unknown

 Dabo

Dabo

C-47A-75-DL 42-100906

440th Troop Carrier Group

“Thought to have been a D-Day veteran”

 Damn Yankee

Damn Yankee

C-47A-65-DL 42-100569

436th Troop Carrier Group, 82nd Troop Carrier Squadron

 Flying Barber (The)

Flying Barber (The)

C-47A-65-DL 42-100571

436th Troop Carrier Group, 82nd Troop Carrier Squadron

 Ghost of Billie L

Ghost of Billie L

C-47A-30-DL 42-23713

433rd Troop Carrier Group

 Gloria II

Gloria II

C-47

440th Troop Carrier Group

 Homing Pidgeon

Homing Pidgeon

C-47A-20-DL 42-23417

 Hot Pants

Hot Pants

C-47

20th Combat Mapping Squadron

 Hot to Go

Hot to Go

C-47A-60-DL 42-24402

 Iron Ass

Iron Ass

C-47A-1-DK 42-92099

435th Troop Carrier Group, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron

 Jean II

Jean II

C-47A-80-DL 43-15240

13th Troop Carrier Squadron

 Kentucky I love thee

Kentucky I love thee

C-47A-80-DL 43-15395

374th Group, 6th Squadron

 Las Vegas Kid

Las Vegas Kid

C-47A-15-DK 42-92775

440th Group

 Liz Belle

Liz Belle

C-47A-65-DL

437th Troop Carrier Group

 Lookin Fer Trouble

Lookin Fer Trouble

C-47A-30-DL 42-23587

Unknown

 Lookin Foursome

Lookin Foursome

C-47

61st Troop Carrier Group

 Mrs Margaret Carnes

Mrs Margaret Carnes

C-47

Unknown

“Vivian Leigh christens a C47 Skytrain”

 Peaches

Peaches

C-47

1st Air Commando

“1st Air Commando”

 Pellican Pappy

Pellican Pappy

C-47A-80-DL 43-15172

61st Troop Carrier Group

 The Potent Pelican

The Potent Pelican

C-47

Unknown

 Pride Of Minnestoa

Pride Of Minnestoa

C-47

440th Group

 R.O.N.

R.O.N.

C-47

1st Air Commando

“1st Air Commando”

 Sad Sack (The)

Sad Sack (The)

C-47

13th Troop Carrier Squadron

 Scarlett O'Hara

Scarlett O'Hara

C-53-DO 42-6478

Unknown

“A C-53 Skytrooper used as VIP transport”

 Slapsie Maxie

Slapsie Maxie

C-47

Unknown

“Photo courtesy of Austin Malcomb via Dodie Amundson”

 Spare Parts

Spare Parts

C-47

440th Troop Carrier Group

“Thought to be a D-Day veteran”

 Starbuck

Starbuck

C-47A-50-DL 42-24204

61st Troop Carrier Group

 Sure Skin

Sure Skin

C-47A-35-DL 42-23860

475th Troop Carrier Group

 Sweet Sue

Sweet Sue

C-47

Unknown

“Can anyone identify sweet Sue?”

 Tail Wind

Tail Wind

C-47

1st Air Commando

“1st Air Commando”

 Texas Genie (The)

Texas Genie (The)

C-47

438th Troop Carrier Group

 Texas Honey

Texas Honey

C-47

433rd Troop Carrier Group

 Texas Queen

Texas Queen

C-53-DL

Unknown

 Texas Tornado

Texas Tornado

C-47

Unknown

 Tow Tired

Tow Tired

C-47A-65-DL 42-100580

437th Troop Carrier Group

 Urgin Virgin

Urgin Virgin

C-47A-60-DL 43-30720

435th Troop Carrier Group

 Wabbit Expwess

Wabbit Expwess

C-47

438th Troop Carrier Group

“Thought to be a D-Day veteran”

 Whooo! The Gray Goose

Whooo! The Gray Goose

C-47 (42-23963)?

433rd Troop Carrier Group

 Winged Buffalo

Winged Buffalo

C-47

 Yanks Delight

Yanks Delight

C-47

Unknown

“Pictured in Hollandia”