| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| Ready Teddy! | F-5E-2-LO | 43-28304 | S9/XX*I | Pilot: Von Tempsky |
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Taken 14-June/44, Lt. Von Tempsky, in 28304, is seen taxing on the ramp at Chalgrove on return from a mission to photograph the bridges between Nantes and Angers. Flying top cover on this day for Capt. Frakes, she is seen here at around 0930 having completed the mission. 304 wore PRU Blue overall with invasion stripes. (Charlie Hoy) |
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| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| Snooper Man | F-5E-2-LO | 43-28317 | S9 | Pilot: Dempsey |
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43-28317 (a.k.a. "Snooper Man") wore overall PRU blue finish with hand-painted invasion stripes on booms and wings. This plane was a victim of Azelot/Lupecourt 07-Dec/44. The runway had a 100' difference in altitude from one end to the other...and while landing in the packed mud on the "downhill side", 317 ran out of brakes and ran off the runway into a ditch. Pilot of this mission, not Dempsey, would survive to fly another day. The airplane was still reparable at this point, but the maintenance group came and tried to remove it from the ditch by attaching a rope to one boom and pulling on it -- which effectively destroyed the airplane. Dempsey remembers, "I was fond of this particular plane, not least because had a picture of my wife in the side window, which was shot out by flak. Benny Gronowicz wrote her, "Don't worry, Mrs Dempsey, we have lots more pictures!" "Snooper Man" would be retired to the boneyard and parted. (Jane Ellsworth via Jim Crow) | |||
| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| L'il Teddy Bear | F-5E-2-LO | 43-28320 | S9/XX*P | Pilot: McGlothlin |
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43-28320 wore natural metal finish with anti-glare panel on camera-bay doors only. It had a Red nose and spinner cpas with yellow-gold trim around camera window frames and main gear wheel covers. The oblique camera blisters were also in yellow-gold as well as the intake scoops for the turbo-superchargers. Other details of this ship including crew are pending research. (Richard Kill) | |||
| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| Ma Petite Cherie II | F-5E-2-LO | 43-28329 | S9/XX*K | Pilot: Beckley |
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The personal mount of Maj. Ray Beckley, 43-28329 was finished in natural metal except for the camera hoods which were in PRU. Anti-glare panels also in PRU. (She had been originally finished in overall PRU-Blue). The tip of the nose is red while hint of former PRU is seen around the "S9" on the boom radiator. While returning to the field after a mission, Major Beckley buzzed low between two trees, unfortunately hitting a stump or underbrush between them. Reportedly the aircraft was never quite right after that. Maj. Beckley is a gifted artist and painted several of the 34th nose art pinups (many of which are featured in this site). His artistic traits can be seen in his sons...one of which happens to be Garry Beckley -- lead singer of the band America! (Richard Kill) |
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| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| Turbo Anny | F-5E-2-LO | 43-28332 | S9/XX*G | Pilot: Frakes |
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One of the most photographed ships of the squadron was "Turbo Anny". Named by her crew after Frakes' daughter. Tut Frakes recalls, "T/Sgt. Spieth, the Crew Chief, plus his men came up with the name as I always tried to have them feel that the aircraft was really their "bird" as pilots other than I flew it on combat missions. They derived "Turbo" from the turbo-supercharged engines that the P-38 had. The "Anny" was in honor of my infant daughter, Ann LaRue Frakes." Each engine nacelle had a name painted on it also. It is unknown (pending research) what the marking was on the right engine, but the left engine featured the names of "Missie 'N LaRue" for Tut Frakes' wife Missie.
"Turbo Anny" flew so many consecutive missions without aborting, that her Crew Chief T/Sgt. Kenneth Spieth was awarded the Bronze Star. "Turbo Anny" originally wore PRU-blue from the depot, and a different pin-up girl on the nose. This was scrubbed off and replaced with the markings seen here. Her final dress was a polished natural metal finish with red nose, spinner caps and yellow-gold a/c code outlined in black. Note the sheet metal extension for the longer focal length K-17 day camera in the forward station. (Richard Kill) |
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| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| F-5E-2-LO | 43-28623 | S9*S/XX*S | Pilot: York | |
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The personal mount of Lt. Garland York, 43-28623 wore natural metal finish with red nose and spinner caps. Most likely it had worn PRU-blue and had been stripped as many of the F-5E-2-LOs the squadron received. This ship has had it's oblique blistered bay doors removed and had them replaced with standard solid "fighter" doors ...illustrating the specialized role this plane had been built to. Note the sheet metal extension for the longer focal length lens in the forward camera station. Note also the name "Dolores" on the port nacelle as well as the "D" in black script..."Colleen" in script on the starboard nacelle. (Richard Kill) |
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| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| Margy | F-5E-2-LO | 43-28624 | S9/XX*C | Pilot: Bosworth |
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43-28624 wore overall PRU Blue with natural metal spinner caps. This ship was part of the 3-ship formation photographs taken between Orleans and Chateaudun on 10-August, 1944. Widely pubished, three of these photos are found in Warren Bodie's "The Lockheed P-38 Lightning." Capt. Bosworth's wife's name, "Margy," is painted on the nose while the name "Katie" is painted on the port nacelle. Many publications have erroniously named such planes by both names. Rather, the names on the engine nacelles were usually that of the engine mechanic's wife or girlfriend. (Benjamin Toller via Jim Crow) |
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| a/c name: | type: | s/n: | sqdrn code(s): | notes: |
| Strato Snob | F-5E-2-LO | 44-23235 | XX*D | Pilot: Schmidt |
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Overall PRU blue with hand-painted invasion stripes on the booms. 44-23235 was the first F-5E to join the squadron. Having the latest mods added in the field, this once P-38J-20-LO was the first in squadron service to feature aileron boost and compressibility "dive" flaps. Pilot's comment, "Everybody almost turned the darn thing over when they over corrected for the first dropped wing on takeoff. We used to amuse ourselves watching everyone do the same thing on their first flight in an aileron boost job." Being a bachelor and having no girlfriend at the time, Larry told his crew to name it whatever they wanted. They chose the name "Strato Snob" featuring a leprechaun standing on a cloud. (Richard Kill) | |||
