Photo taken May 12, 1945 by Charles E. Brown
Digital media, photo retouched, by author
"A Bit-O-Lace"
This is a reproduction, taken from a black and white
Xerox copy of the original artwork and Lt. Bates (Pilot) memory.
(Click to see large image 85K jpg of a retouched
color photo of the original artwork -
use your brower's "back" button to return)
Miss Lace's
"Bates" crew co-pilot,
was Lt. John Bauman, a fraternity brother of Milton Caniff.
Lt. Bauman sent Caniff a detailed sketch of the proposed artwork.
The sketch was returned with Caniff's annotation:
"A Bit-O-Lace for Lt. John H. Bauman,
and the rest of the gang,
with my best wishes - Milton Caniff
NY, Oct. 1944"
LT. John H. Bauman
Nicholas Fingelly, an artist attached to
the USAAF 709th Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group,
carried out the work and completed the painting in about six hours
and gave
Milton Caniff full credit for his his character.
Bates photograph
Poster from San Antonio Military
Museum
"Photo taken May 12, 1945 by Charles E. Brown
Note the dark olive drab color
on the rudder, elevators, and starboard aileron. These
are
obviously replacement parts after
she received extensive tail damage on
April 4, 1945. Prior to April
4, 1945, the rudder and ailerons were painted silver.
Sent by Rob Kirkwood"
Miss Lace, flew83 missions.
"Bates" crew memories and photos.
"Mustaleski" crew memories
and photos
Historical fact: 4297976 was assigned to the Bates crew with the name of
" We (the crew) acquired #4297976 as a new ship. Our first mission as lead crew was with her. After St. Lo we flew as an 11-man crew. An extra radio was installed and manned by a German expatriate. One more glory for Louie The Creep - early electronic surveillance. "Louie The Creep" was a fictional character of the author Damon Runyon, and it was my bright idea to submit the name." - Donald L. Smith, ball turret gunner on Lt. James C. Ray's crew.
A Bit-O-Lace
flying in a post VE flyover for the people of England.
Photo taken May 12, 1945 by Charles E. Brown
sent by Rob Kirkwood
Planes from upper left to lower
right are; 43-38719 "A" (Blue Hen Chick), 44-8783 "X" (unnamed), 43-38768
"B" (unnamed), 42-31225 "G" (Scheherezade), 43-38230 "E" (Wolf Wagon),
43-37795 "H" (unnamed), 42-97976 "D" (A Bit O' Lace). My father said
this was a staged flyover by the 447th Bomb Group, for the English people.
Notes on above photos by Charles E. Brown
- The July 1945 issue of a British magazine named Aeronautics, includes an article titled; "Farewell to the B-17s." The article is by Mr. Roger Montgomery and Mr. Charles Brown. It contains a number of pictures of the 447th's planes, including six of A Bit O' Lace flying solo, and three of her flying in tightformation with other B-17s of the 709th squadron.
- The article also states that the crew of A Bit O' Lace on that day was; Lieutenants J. F. Baier (pilot), J.O. Baker (co-pilot), and B.T. Duke (navigator).
- The plane from which the air to air photographs were taken was named "Univited." (the book; B-17 Flying Fortress Nose Art Gallery book by John and Donna Cambell includes a photograph of this plane on page 5) Interesting, this is a B-17G with the chin turret removed.
Miss Lace Starboard side.
Note: Large Photo
Photo taken by Jerry McLain,
sent by Rob Kirkwood
B-17 , 297976,
was ultimately scrapped along with her surplus sisters.
Milton Caniff's comic strip, Male Call,
from where the, Miss Lace artwork was
drafted,
was also scrapped at about the same time.
Miss Lace in Kingman Arizona.
Photos taken on February 8, 1947, by William T. Larkins,
sent by Rob Kirkwood
The spirit of A Bit-O-Lace
lives on.
Today, models of plastic or wood, and electrons are bearing Miss
Lace stripes
and may be found in a majority of hobby or specialty shops
across the United States and the WWW.
Visit A Flying Bit-O-Lace Model
Painting by author - airbrush and tube accrylic
Were you a crew member on the 1943/44 model of Miss
Lace?
Drop me a line.
bruce@bates-r-us.org
Happy Landings! - B. K.
Bates