USAAF Nose Art Research Project


 

Homesick Angel
B-17G-35-DL 42-107135

385th Bomb Group

Appearance

Nose art painted by
Anne HAYWOOD
American Red Cross Aero Club, 385th Bomb Group
Great Ashfield

Homesick Angel

Assigned to 549th squadron on 24th April 1944, "Homesick Angel" was named by Robert Milligan who described the plane as "... easy to handle and a dream to fly -- like a good woman!" Anne Haywood's first painting showed a more scantily clad figure which higher authority order to be covered. This was an all too common cry with many nose art paintings which were deemed to have been inappropriate. "Cover up or clean off!" was the order of the day. Anne painted the crew's jackets with this design which, enlarged to full size on the side of the B17G, proved to be a colourful image not easily missed.

Flak shot out two engines on 15th August 1944 over Munster. Attempting to reach the North Sea, pilot Lt Rosener was forced to ditch prematurely into the Zuider Zee. The crew scrambled into their dingies and were picked up by Dutch fishermen -- but later had to be handed over to a German patrol boat. A replacement Fort at Great Ashfield was named as "Angel's Sister".





 
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© Ray Bowden 11 December 2023