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THE BUFFALO GAL
A warplane was government property but men who fought in it were apt to consider it “our plane.” The appropriation was usually affirmed with a name and combat achievements painted on the nose area of the craft.
My daughter, Jan, was born in 1943 about the same time our crew
was being put together. Her home was at Buffalo Gap, Texas near
Abilene. The crew immediately adopted her as the “Buffalo Gal”
after the song of the same name. In her honor, the crew’s decision
was to name our B-17 |
A
beautiful little “bombshell” blond actress of the time was being
cast in a movie role as the Annie Oakley type. Her attire was cowboy
hat, boots, short buck-skin skirt and slightly open vest revealing a
modest amount of interest. Her final adornment was a pair of holstered
.45 cal. pistols. She corresponded with some of the crew’s gunners,
but had no use for officers at all. She became the model for the nose
art painting on the Buffalo Gal...
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