Der Grossarschvogel is listed as the name of an B-17 with the 401st BG. Translated it means, “The Big Butt Bird”. The plane also used the name, “You All Right”.  Some planes had more than one name, they were renamed by new crews or they had a right side and a left side name painted on.

Mrs Aldaflak was a popular play on words for flight crews dodging flak.

The jacket with the pin-up girl is an example of a sewn on applique.  The pin-up either came from a damaged, previously painted jacket or a separately painted piece of leather.  It was not uncommon for local artisans to paint ‘nose art’ on leather and sell them to flight crews, who would have them sewn on their own jackets. The jacket in the b&w photo has a large space between Mrs Aldaflak and his home state of Rhode Island.  It might have been left blank to be painted later, or have a painted applique sewn on.

Duffy’s Tavern was named for a situation comedy radio show that ran from 1941 to 1951.  The beer mug painted on the nose turret wasn’t painted on the backs of the jackets.

Who knows what WW2 term inspired this crew to name their plane, Twannggg !!, was it the WW2 equivalent of todays, schwinnngg !

As you notice, even though the name of the plane is on the jacket, crew members had the choice of personalizing their jackets with the pinup girl of their dreams, or where they were from.