Nose Art Themes

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.

Name	Serial #	Type	Unit
Ace High Assigned to the 322nd Troop Carrier Wing		C-47	Unknown
Ace of (Hearts)		C-47	Unknown
Ambulance Plane #1	42-32836	C-47-DL	Unknown
Angel in Blue Philippines based plane equipped for casualty evacuation		C-47
Arkansas Traveler	42-100670	C-47A-70-DL	436th Troop Carrier Group, 79th Troop Carrier Squadron
Betts Believed to have flown on D-Day	42-100904	C-47A-75-DL	440th Troop Carrier Group
Big Snatch 1st Air Commando		C-47	1st Air Commando
Billie L.		C-47A	433rd Troop Carrier Group
Bon-Bon		C-47	440th Troop Carrier Group
Bouncin Bitch		C-47	314th Group
Bucket of Bolts		C-47	435th Troop Carrier Group, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron
Charlotte M		C-47	Unknown
Chattanooga Choo Choo		C-53
Cold Turkey Sucka		C-47	Unknown
Dabo Thought to have been a D-Day veteran	42-100906	C-47A-75-DL	440th Troop Carrier Group
Damn Yankee	42-100569	C-47A-65-DL	436th Troop Carrier Group, 82nd Troop Carrier Squadron
Flying Barber (The)	42-100571	C-47A-65-DL	436th Troop Carrier Group, 82nd Troop Carrier Squadron
Ghost of Billie L	42-23713	C-47A-30-DL	433rd Troop Carrier Group
Gloria II		C-47	440th Troop Carrier Group
Homing Pidgeon	42-23417	C-47A-20-DL
Hot Pants		C-47	20th Combat Mapping Squadron
Hot to Go	42-24402	C-47A-60-DL
Iron Ass	42-92099	C-47A-1-DK	435th Troop Carrier Group, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron
Jean II	43-15240	C-47A-80-DL	13th Troop Carrier Squadron
Kentucky I love thee	43-15395	C-47A-80-DL	374th Group, 6th Squadron
Las Vegas Kid	42-92775	C-47A-15-DK	440th Group
Liz Belle		C-47A-65-DL	437th Troop Carrier Group
Lookin Fer Trouble	42-23587	C-47A-30-DL	Unknown
Lookin Foursome		C-47	61st Troop Carrier Group
Mrs Margaret Carnes Vivian Leigh christens a C47 Skytrain		C-47	Unknown
Peaches 1st Air Commando		C-47	1st Air Commando
Pellican Pappy	43-15172	C-47A-80-DL	61st Troop Carrier Group
The Potent Pelican		C-47	Unknown
Pride Of Minnestoa		C-47	440th Group
R.O.N. 1st Air Commando		C-47	1st Air Commando
Sad Sack (The)		C-47	13th Troop Carrier Squadron
Scarlett O'Hara A C-53 Skytrooper used as VIP transport	42-6478	C-53-DO	Unknown
Slapsie Maxie Photo courtesy of Austin Malcomb via Dodie Amundson		C-47	Unknown
Spare Parts Thought to be a D-Day veteran		C-47	440th Troop Carrier Group
Starbuck	42-24204	C-47A-50-DL	61st Troop Carrier Group
Sure Skin	42-23860	C-47A-35-DL	475th Troop Carrier Group
Sweet Sue Can anyone identify sweet Sue?		C-47	Unknown
Tail Wind 1st Air Commando		C-47	1st Air Commando
Texas Genie (The)		C-47	438th Troop Carrier Group
Texas Honey		C-47	433rd Troop Carrier Group
Texas Queen		C-53-DL	Unknown
Texas Tornado		C-47	Unknown
Tow Tired	42-100580	C-47A-65-DL	437th Troop Carrier Group
Urgin Virgin	43-30720	C-47A-60-DL	435th Troop Carrier Group
Wabbit Expwess Thought to be a D-Day veteran		C-47	438th Troop Carrier Group
Whooo! The Gray Goose	(42-23963)?	C-47	433rd Troop Carrier Group
Winged Buffalo		C-47
Yanks Delight Pictured in Hollandia		C-47	Unknown

Information Update for Readers of
"Plane Names & Fancy Noses - 91st Bomb Group (Heavy)"

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Nose Art Themes

Gooney Birds