Ole Droopy Drawers, the P-47 Thunderbolt, seems to always be in the maintenance shop. |
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from the 34th fighter Squadron Yearbook |
P-47 Thunderbolt |
A World War 2 P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Aircraft named Droopy Drawers on the Pacific Island of Ie Shima. |
Go to the 34th Fighter Squadron home page |
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To the Yellow Airplane Exhibit Index
Click Here is a photo of Ole Droopy Drawers in little pieces. This plane
is always in the repair shop. Take a look at the leading edge of
the right wing. You can see the eight machine gun ports. Also
notice the engines twin row radial design. I'm surprised that there
aren't any models made of Droopy Drawers, it's getting to be a famous ole
P-47 Thunderbolt.
Dear Mr. Dyrek,
My grandma was a WAAC, and she was in the motorpool. She has
some great stories about driving Wendell Wilkie and meeting with
Curtis Lemay. The story about Droopy Drawers is really just a
family anecdote, but it’s a favorite. She was with my
grandfather while he was stationed on Okinawa and was walking
down the street one day and the elastic on her underwear gave
out while she was walking in front of a group of airmen. Well,
as you may imagine, there were many whistles and catcalls and
such, and she scurried home thinking it was one of the more
embarrassing moments of her life. She was even more embarrassed
when, a few weeks later, her husband took her to see the freshly
painted plane, “Droopy Drawers”. So we don’t actually have proof
that it’s based on that incident, but it would be a major
coincidence if not! Especially as I just learned from her today
the he was with the 34th as an armament chief –
Albert “Jack” Shields. I never knew that – I always just knew he
was with the “ Hollywood 8th” when it went to England
, but apparently that was his first tour with the service. When
he re-upped, he was with the 34th. They stayed on
Okinawa until they opened up the Philippines for families. Then
they spent some time there before coming back to the States.
My grandfather passed on a few years ago, but I will scan and
send pictures of him as well. We’re off on a week-long trip in
San Diego tomorrow, but I will try to get to them after that.
Hope all is well, and I’m glad I could make your day yesterday;
it certainly made mine as well!
Roni Leland
4 Aug 2007 |
Some good pictures from
Vincent Dauro from the 318th Fighter Squadron on the
island of Ie Shima in WW2
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