USAAF Nose Art Research Project


 

Big (Ass) Bird 2
B24D-155-CO 42-72801

380th Bomb Group, 531st Bomb Squadron



Nose art painted by
Toni ROBIN
American Red Cross, attached to 380th Bomb Group
Fenton, Australia & New Guinea

Big (Ass) Bird 2
Toni Robin's second version of the this artwork closely resembled her first rendition but with an added circle background and bolder, simpler lettering. This aircraft's first combat mission was flown to Tjepoe, Java, on 17th November 1943. It is known to have completed at least 28 missions and its gunners claimed one enemy fighter shot down. While flying a secret mission to drop saboteurs into Japanese-held western New Guinea on 19th March 1944, "Big (Ass) Bird II" hit a mountain killing all ten members of Lt Otto Martens' crew.




 
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© Ray Bowden 14 September 2026
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