Pen32Win
February 26th, 2009, 19:34
Since we're all having fun with our Works In Progress.... Here's a little preview of a very, very bad girl...
THE NAMING OF DIRTY DORA
Toward the end of 1943, with targets becoming tougher, particularly the neutralization of Rabaul, our losses became significant, calling for
replacement of aircraft and crews. The 38th Bomb Group had been in the theater a little longer than our Group so they, being the senior B-25 Group, acquired the new "H" and "J" models and therefore we fell heir to their "C" and "D" models.
The B-25C, 41-12971 -- DIRTY DORA -- was transferred into the 345th Bomb Group and then assigned to the 499th Squadron. I inherited the airplane along with a crew.
Sydney, Australia was the leave and furlough spot for 5th Air Force flight crews in New Guinea and the Squadron policy was rotational, which worked out to be a week in Sydney about every six weeks for each crew.
One must realize that Sydney, during those months, was devoid of young men. Australia had gone to war when Britain declared war in September 1939 and the entire Australian military; army, navy, air force, had been sent to North Africa to join Montgomery's campaign against Rommel.
So, when the American Air Force arrived in Australia the latter part of 1942 and 1943, there were no young men there and hadn't been since 1939. Well, one can imagine the paradise that young, lusty yanks found when they arrived in Sydney on leave with pockets full of money (where could one spend money in New Guinea?) to find that the young women there were equally "ready" having no men around for months.
On one such leave, I met a 38th Bomb Group pilot who knew the story of the naming of the airplane. One of the crew had met an Australian girl,
Dora, who moved in with him for the week he was there. He was amazed and delighted at the talent (and virtuosity) of his young partner in bed;
particularly at the height of her pleasure when she would inexplicably scream out the most profane obscenities, words that even shocked him, coming from a seemingly otherwise modest and sweet young girl. So the perfect name for the airplane, DIRTY DORA.
On a subsequent Sydney leave, I met Dora and explained that she was the namesake of my airplane, I even took her out to the airport to show her the name painted on the nose of the airplane; she was unimpressed! (More like embarrassed into silence...LOL)
Vic Tatelman, Pilot of Dirty Dora I and II.
Dirty Dora was a bad little girl who really got around, flying with the 405th, 71st and finally with the 499th Bomber Squadron.
Assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group in September 1942 with the 405th Bombardment Squadron and nicknmaed "Dirty Dora". Servied from September 1942 - April 1943 and flew during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
Next 71st Bombardment Squadron from April 1943 - July 1943.
Sent to Townsville on July 17, 1943 for modification as a strafer, and returned to New Guinea serving with the 345th Bombardment Group, 499th Bombardment Squadron. Assigned to 1st Lt. Victor Tatelman and crew chief TSgt Perry W. Scott. Missions flown included October 12, 1943 Rabaul mission. October 16 Wewak mission, February 3, 1944 Dagua mission and February 15, 1944 Kavieng mission.
Dirty Dora suffered nose gear damage on February 17, 1944 and was repaired at the 376th Service Squadron at Nadzab Airfield. Afterwards, it was assigned to to Lt. Graham. When this B-25 was declared war weary on August 30, 1944 it had flown 175 combat missions.
TR's working out a little glitch in the MDL and I've got a few things to touch up but Dora should be ready to please all comers soon.
THE NAMING OF DIRTY DORA
Toward the end of 1943, with targets becoming tougher, particularly the neutralization of Rabaul, our losses became significant, calling for
replacement of aircraft and crews. The 38th Bomb Group had been in the theater a little longer than our Group so they, being the senior B-25 Group, acquired the new "H" and "J" models and therefore we fell heir to their "C" and "D" models.
The B-25C, 41-12971 -- DIRTY DORA -- was transferred into the 345th Bomb Group and then assigned to the 499th Squadron. I inherited the airplane along with a crew.
Sydney, Australia was the leave and furlough spot for 5th Air Force flight crews in New Guinea and the Squadron policy was rotational, which worked out to be a week in Sydney about every six weeks for each crew.
One must realize that Sydney, during those months, was devoid of young men. Australia had gone to war when Britain declared war in September 1939 and the entire Australian military; army, navy, air force, had been sent to North Africa to join Montgomery's campaign against Rommel.
So, when the American Air Force arrived in Australia the latter part of 1942 and 1943, there were no young men there and hadn't been since 1939. Well, one can imagine the paradise that young, lusty yanks found when they arrived in Sydney on leave with pockets full of money (where could one spend money in New Guinea?) to find that the young women there were equally "ready" having no men around for months.
On one such leave, I met a 38th Bomb Group pilot who knew the story of the naming of the airplane. One of the crew had met an Australian girl,
Dora, who moved in with him for the week he was there. He was amazed and delighted at the talent (and virtuosity) of his young partner in bed;
particularly at the height of her pleasure when she would inexplicably scream out the most profane obscenities, words that even shocked him, coming from a seemingly otherwise modest and sweet young girl. So the perfect name for the airplane, DIRTY DORA.
On a subsequent Sydney leave, I met Dora and explained that she was the namesake of my airplane, I even took her out to the airport to show her the name painted on the nose of the airplane; she was unimpressed! (More like embarrassed into silence...LOL)
Vic Tatelman, Pilot of Dirty Dora I and II.
Dirty Dora was a bad little girl who really got around, flying with the 405th, 71st and finally with the 499th Bomber Squadron.
Assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group in September 1942 with the 405th Bombardment Squadron and nicknmaed "Dirty Dora". Servied from September 1942 - April 1943 and flew during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
Next 71st Bombardment Squadron from April 1943 - July 1943.
Sent to Townsville on July 17, 1943 for modification as a strafer, and returned to New Guinea serving with the 345th Bombardment Group, 499th Bombardment Squadron. Assigned to 1st Lt. Victor Tatelman and crew chief TSgt Perry W. Scott. Missions flown included October 12, 1943 Rabaul mission. October 16 Wewak mission, February 3, 1944 Dagua mission and February 15, 1944 Kavieng mission.
Dirty Dora suffered nose gear damage on February 17, 1944 and was repaired at the 376th Service Squadron at Nadzab Airfield. Afterwards, it was assigned to to Lt. Graham. When this B-25 was declared war weary on August 30, 1944 it had flown 175 combat missions.
TR's working out a little glitch in the MDL and I've got a few things to touch up but Dora should be ready to please all comers soon.