Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:03 am
airnutz wrote:TriangleP wrote:the "Big Nig" moniker was based on a book character, the significance of which I do not know, but obviously from another era. Enough said about that.
Maybe different literary circles, but the "Big Nig" I'm aware of was a character from a 1931 Damon Runyon
short story, "The Bloodhounds of Broadway". "Big Nig", another Runyon colorful(no pun intended) character was
a streetsmart crapshooter...an interesting name for an A-20 in a desperate war against the Japanese..if in
fact THIS literature is where the name originated?
That's where it's from. All (or most) of the unit's A20s had names from Runyon, IIRC, and caricatures also.
Over to Jack...
Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:38 pm
I was just at Yagen's place in VA Beach today, the Spit Hurri and Yak-3 are gone. They said they're away for maintainence. I'll post some pictures from a point-and-shoot later!
TC
TC
Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:37 pm
airnutz wrote:RMAllnutt wrote:Well... their MiG-3 is going through a lot of re-work at the moment. Has yet to fly in the USA, but they hope to have her in the air this summer.
Richard
Can you share what happened? It flew in Russia..is this an Americanization process?
Sort of.... but that's as much as I should probably say.
Cheers,
Richard
Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:46 pm
Re: "BN"..
Yes, a Damon Runyon character and proported to be an Indian. The 89th Sqdn used Runyon's character's names more than the other Sqdn's in the Group. Most of the nose art was painted, per Robbie Robinson, by parachute rigger Tony Benson. He did a remarkable job capturing the characteristics of the pilots. Here's a couple courtesy of my good friend Jack Heyn, Photo Section 3rd Attack Group.
Bill
Yes, a Damon Runyon character and proported to be an Indian. The 89th Sqdn used Runyon's character's names more than the other Sqdn's in the Group. Most of the nose art was painted, per Robbie Robinson, by parachute rigger Tony Benson. He did a remarkable job capturing the characteristics of the pilots. Here's a couple courtesy of my good friend Jack Heyn, Photo Section 3rd Attack Group.
Bill
Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:56 am
There were three 'Big Nig' A-20's it would seem, all with similar but slightly different artwork
May I ask if any period images of the artwork of this Australian example, 43-9436, are out there?
PeterA
May I ask if any period images of the artwork of this Australian example, 43-9436, are out there?
PeterA
Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:55 pm
is the fighter factory restoring that ki-61 tony to fly
Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:27 pm
PeterA wrote:There were three 'Big Nig' A-20's it would seem, all with similar but slightly different artwork
May I ask if any period images of the artwork of this Australian example, 43-9436, are out there?
PeterA
PeterA..
Presently, I don't have any photo's of the two earlier "BN" A-20's. If any exist, it would probably be with one of the vets. Here's a couple more of the characters. Their rather poor scans from the 89th's book "ALTITUDE MINIMUM".
Bill
John "PADDY" Field
Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:53 am
Hemiman,
Many thanks.
PeterA
Many thanks.
PeterA
Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:02 pm
Not sure if this is the best place, but stopped by last Sept. The first four shots are from then... http://www.pbase.com/photozbyliza/fighter_factory