C-47 Nose Art - Help Needed - 306th Troop Carrier Squadron

Quest Master · **Joined:** Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:42 pm **Posts:** 387

I need help on figuring out the nose art on a C-47 that flew with the 306th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group in Normandy and Market Garden. This is the only known photograph of this aircraft: C-47A 43-15137. The picture was taken just prior to June 6th 1944 (no invasion stripes painted yet). On the front of the nose appears to be a white triangle with 137 painted under it, 7H on the side of the nose in white, with radio call letter H on the tail.
The question is, can anyone make out the nose art or maybe they have seen it before? There is obviously a name and what looks like a pentagon or a oddly shaped canteen. The name aircraft was flown by 1st Lt Buckley A. Maynard.
These are two zoomed in images taken from the original National Archives picture:

The full history of this aircraft can be seen here:
http://www.questmasters.us/C-47A_43-15137.html

Quest Master · **Joined:** Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:42 pm **Posts:** 387

Looking at the image again....the nose art could be a set or several playing cards that have been fanned out. Anyone have any ideas?

SaxMan · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2014 4:35 pm

Have you tried to see if you could track down the family of the pilot? Perhaps they may have some photos.

I'm inclined to agree with you that it looks like playing cards -- maybe two of them, so some kind of Blackjack reference?

Keep digging. It took me over two years to find photos of 42-100985 "Cheryl-Belle" with the 437th TCG, 86th TCS. If you keep shaking enough trees, eventually something of value will fall out.

Quest Master · **Joined:** Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:42 pm **Posts:** 387

Yes, I have tried contacting the family of the crew. The Navigator of the aircraft for the Normandy drop is the only living member. He was assigned to the aircraft just days prior to June 6th 1944 due to a shortage of trained Navigators. He only met the four other members of the crew 2 or 3 days prior. He could not remember the name of the aircraft.

I have also found two living paratroopers that jumped from her as "Chalk 40" on June 6th 1944. Neither of them remember the name of the aircraft either.

I figured I'd post pictures here to see if anyone had seen an image of the just the nose art in another picture to jog some memories. I have put this question down for about 2 years and figured I'd pick it back up again.

Quest Master · **Joined:** Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:42 pm **Posts:** 387

Still looking for any leads on this nose art.
Thanks!
Van

Quest Master · **Joined:** Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:42 pm **Posts:** 387

Thought I would bring this back up to the top to see if anyone recognised the nose art or knew of any other 306th TCS pictures.

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C-47 Nose Art - Help Needed - 306th Troop Carrier Squadron

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