GAY CABALLEROS
42-29759
B-17F 91/323 OR-V

One of -the 96th Bomb Group's original complement of aircraft, this camouflagedB-17F flew into Grafton Underwood on 25th April 1943. The ship was named "Gay Caballeros" whilst with the 96th BG, probably after the characters in the popular Walt Disney cartoon movie made in 1943 titled "Saludos Amigos", featuring Donald Duck and Joe Carioca. Within three months it had been transferred on to the 379th at Kimbolton, the base from which the 91st originally began its deployment in England. "Gay Caballeros" sustained severe battle damage over Schweinfurt on 14th October, force-landed at the famous Battle of Britain airfield of Biggin Hill and ground looped. There were three large holes in the horizontal stabilizer, behind the No.l engine and just forward of the main door, which were throught to be the result of 20mm hits. Extensive repairs were needed and the aircraft was sent to the 2nd Strategic Air Depot.

Made fit for service again, it was sent to Bassingbourn to join the 91st on 21st December 1943. Dyle Bradford's crew was assigned to the plane and took it to Kiel on the 4th January for its first mission with the 91st. "Gay Caballeros" was lucky to survivethe month because on the 29th, on its fourth mission with the group, it suffered a near catastrophic mid-air collision over Frankfurt which ripped away a section of its tail rudder. Flak hits further damaged the plane and it was only through the skill of the pilot Dyle Bradford, and Lady Luck, that the ship made it back to Bassingbourn. Ground crews replaced the damaged rudder and had the plane back in action on the 6th February for a mission to Nancy/Essey airfield in France.

Only five further missions were flown with the group the last being to Augsburg on 25th February, before the plane was transferred to Air Force Service Command in Early April 1944. It returned to the USA and was finally scrapped at Altus, Oklahoma.

"Story taken from Plane Names & Fancy Noses, by Ray Bowden"