Nose Art Themes

Vargas Esquire Centerfold March 1944 "Pistol Packin' Mama"

One of the favourite titles to appear as aircraft nose art was spawned from the popular 1942-43 song written and recorded by Al Dexter (later by Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters). Alberto Vargas immortalised the title with his "Pistol Packin' Mama" pin up which appeared in March 1944 as the centre gatefold of Esquire Magazine. The gun toting pin up was an obvious choice for bomber crews and fighter pilots and it appeared on almost every type of airplane. In some cases a differing image was used with the title and in others there was a slight or complete variation in the title but the same Vargas image.
If you have any photos of any of these aircraft or their crews, or can add other examples or details of their service and fate, please share them with me.

Name	Serial #	Type	Unit
Bangin' Lulu	42-51091	B-24	446th Bomb Group, 707th Bomb Squadron
Calamity Jane	42-52440		451st Bomb Group, 725th Bomb Squadron
Fort Worth Gal	44-6095	B-17G-40-DL	381st Bomb Group, 533rd Bomb Squadron
Mama		B-25	321st Bomb Group
Miss Fortune	42-52559		467th Bomb Group, 790th Bomb Squadron
Mist'er Chance	41-28691	B-24	466th Group, 785th Squadron
Pist'l Packin Mama	42-37779	B-17G-10-DL	91st Bomb Group, 324th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	41-30764		22nd Bomb Group, 2nd Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-30609	B-17F-110-BO	95th Bomb Group, 335th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-30791	B-17F-120-BO	305th Bomb Group, 422nd Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-30866	B-17F-125-BO	351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-31037	B-17G	401st Group, 613rd Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-31213	B-17G-5-BO	303rd Bomb Group, 359th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-40594	B-24	90th Bomb Group
Pistol Packin Mama	42-52124		450th Bomb Group, 720th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-52563		464th Bomb Group, 776th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama	42-72858		44th Bomb Group, 68th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama			371st Group
Pistol Packin Mama			301st Bomb Group, 32nd Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama			339th Fighter Group, 505th Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama		C-47
Pistol Packin Mama			452nd Bomb Group
Pistol Packin Mama		B-24	308th Bomb Group
Pistol Packin Mama		B-24
Pistol Packin Mama			56th Fighter Group, 61st Squadron
Pistol Packin Mama
Pistol Packin Mamma	42-30142	B-17F-90-BO	388th Group, 560th Squadron
Pistol Packin Mamma	42-31586	B-17G	97th Bomb Group, 414th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin Punkin		B-25	12th Bomb Group
Pistol Packin' Mama	42-30434	B-17F-105-BO	390th Bomb Group, 570th Bomb Squadron
Pistol Packin' Mama			95th Bomb Group
Pistol Packing Mamma	42-25274	P-47D-20-RE	79th Fighter Group, 85th Fighter Squadron
Pistol Pakin Mamma	42-72989	B-24	30th Bomb Group, 38th Bomb Squadron
Pistol-Pakin Mama	42-72787	B-24D-155-CO	307th Bomb Group
Pride Of Billings -- Jean	44-24214		1st Air Commando
Rangoon Rangler	44-40857	B-25J-185-CO	7th Bomb Group, 9th Bomb Squadron
Robbie L	42-40516		380th Bomb Group, 529th Bomb Squadron
Tex's Pal		P-47
Texas Kate	44-40358	B-24	30th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Squadron

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

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Nose Art Themes

Vargas Esquire Centerfold March 1944 "Pistol Packin' Mama"