Plane names?
 

I'm building my first warbird (Model Tech P-51d 40), and wondering if anyone knows how they used to name the planes back then. I love the idea of having a bombshell girl on the nose, and found the decal I want, but I have no idea how they named then? Any help would be great!

RE: Plane names?
 

xena74,

If you're referring to the personalized names, these were usually decided by the pilot and/or crew but, like a knife fight, there aren't any "rules" per se.

Take Robert Morgan, pilot of "The Memphis Belle". He wanted that name but the other crew members didn't like it so he told told them to sleep on it and they'd have a vote the next day. Well, Colonel Morgan being Colonel Morgan took the tailgunner out for a few drinks that night and persuaded him to go along with "The Memphis Belle" noniker. The next day everyone had a different name in mind but the good Colonel and his tailgunner both stuck with the one name so it was two to a bunch of ones and the rest became history.

I had the pleasure and honor to have met John Oliphint a few years back. John flew P-47's and P-51's out of England, each airplane he flew was named "The Mad Rebel". John said he didn't have a hand in naming his plane, that the name was given by his crew chief. Not even John truly knew the significance of the name...........John wasn't even a Southerner.

Oh, and the movie, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo"? I don't know if it's factual but "The Ruptured Duck", at least in the movie, was named by fellow pilots after a bad take off attempt by Lt. Lawson. Seems a lot of us get our nicknames after we screw up really bad, huh?

"Ursul" was the name given by Erich Hartmann to each plane he was assigned. "Ursula" was his sweetheart's name and his call sign, by his choice, was "Karaya 1" which, I believe, is German for "Sweetheart 1". Hartmann is not unusual in this as most planes, regardless of nationality, were named by their pilots.

If you want to read a good book that gives some great insight into life as a P-39 driver in New Guinea, pick up a copy of "Nanette" by Edwards Park. Yes, he named his plane but he never had the name put on it. He usually referred to his P-39 in many less-than-friendly terms but he admitted that his Airacobra saved his life on several occasions. I guess you could say it was a love/hate relationship just like with any woman. ;)

Hope this helps, Bud. Enjoy your build!

Al

RE: Plane names?
 

Thanks for all the great history. My husband thinks i'm crazy to agonize over naming my plane. But it's my first and I wanna do her justice. Thanks!

RE: Plane names?
 

Most guys think of their planes as "her". Shouldn't you think of yours as a "him", then ? :D

There was a guy on History Channel the other night, a pilot in a P-51 group in WWII. His P-51 was named "My Baby". He named it from the song in "Dumbo" (animated Disney movie that had been released about that time) where the baby elephant's Mom was singing to Dumbo.

Later, when he was dating one or another gal and they would ask him about the name of his plane, he would tell them that he had named it for them (whichever one he was with at the time)

RE: Plane names?
 

Chuck Yeager named his P-51's and later the X-1 after his girlfriend and later wife... Glamorous Glennis

Richard Bong named his P-38 after his wife as well...Marjorie, or Marge for short.

Tibbets named "his" B-29 Enola Gay after his mother.

John Godfry (part of the "Two Man AirForce" with Don Gentile) named all his planes Reggie's Reply after his brother, a Merchant Marine, whom was killed by a U-Boat in 1941.

RE: Plane names?
 

Xena,the P51 that I am flying now is named after "Woody Woodpecker". The pilots name is "Capt WOODY" . My nick name is Woody.I'm putting my other P51 " Big Beautifull Doll" that was shot down, back together[someones tx was turned on] and I'll be calling her "LiL LU LU" after the comic strip character, because my wifes name is Lou Ann. So take your pick and have fun. Tom

RE: Plane names?
 

just some examples from the 20th fighter group (P-51D's)

Sneebo- Capt. Sass
Bad Sack- Maj. Gilbertson
Gentle Annie- Col. Rau
Joe- Col. Dickerson
Maggie- Cap. Huey
It's the kid!- Lt. Alexander
Moon- Lt. Mullins
Mina MerleII- Lt. Jones
June Nite- Capt. Fibelhorn
Miss Miami- Lt. Jones
Grupmy- Col. Montgomery


and the list goes on...;)

RE: Plane names?
 

My father flew P-47's. His first plane was called THUMPER which is what they called their first son (my oldest brother) because he thumped his foot a lot in the crib. He named his next plane after my mom Virginia, GINNIE. He told me that was the last plane he named as it was shot down while another pilot was flying it. So many P-47's were getting shot up so bad due to the ground attacks that they went thru many planes. He said they flew whichever plane was available.

RE: Plane names?
 

I'd think it would be weird to name mine after a guy? When I showed my husband the pinup girl I wanted to put on the nose and that I was thinking of a girly name he asked me if I was turning lesbo! lol
It's gonna be a girl no matter what. I love that era, and anything from it. Thanks for the info. I'll try to think of something fun. Still gonna be a wekk till she's flight worthy, so I gotta little time.

RE: Plane names?
 

You could use your pin up art with the name "Miss Behaven"

RE: Plane names?
 

I like that, kinda fits me like a glove!