401st Bomb Group (H) Association
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General Posts #368

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Phoenix


6/19/2008 4:13:16 AM
Ok all you research geniuses out there can someone explain the 'Nose Art' of 4297938 SC-S 'Twan-n-g-g-g for me? The young lady is obvious but what the heck is the spinny whizzy circular pattern meant to be? I ask as it is the subject matter of Stan Stokes print "Portrait of a Queen" which I have just aquired. ‽ :shock:

improvise, adapt, overcome
swinny


6/19/2008 8:48:28 AM
Hey phoenix

I really don't know , but it looks like she has something in her hand that she is spinning around so that it looks like a propeller

Maybe a necklace , its just a thought.
Andy

_________

My adoption graves http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/us_401stBG.htm
donaldbyers


6/20/2008 1:23:12 PM
How about a spinning tassel? Am really not sure just my thought.

Don

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
EDanaII


6/23/2008 3:26:49 PM
Speculating wildly: Twang could be a sexual reference much as "schwing!" is today. Maybe the spinny-watchya-ma-thing-it is something to do with that.



EDanaII


6/23/2008 4:24:59 PM
Upon closer inspection, I note that the Twan-n-g-g-g is surrounded by a number of musical notes. I the Twang is a reference to the sounds of an instrument. Perhaps being played off key upon sighting the vivacious lady. How's that for another clue for Scooby and the Gang? 🙂

Ed.



donaldbyers


6/23/2008 6:39:34 PM
It is also a term used in archery when the arrow hits the target. How many times have you heard it along with a cartoon.

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
EDanaII


6/23/2008 11:42:52 PM
That's an excellent point, Donald. And I, as an advocate of "Occam's Razor" have to say that is the likely answer. Still doesn't explain what that spinny/blurry thingie is though...

Ed.



Phoenix


6/24/2008 1:59:45 PM
Gentlemen,
I like the suggestions, I was thinking along musical lines myself as I thought the young lady might be strumming, the cartoon references are inspired and I didn't know about the archery stuff. So how about the spinny whizzy bit being the bulls eye for "hitting" on a "Varga Girl"? 😎

improvise, adapt, overcome
EDanaII


6/25/2008 6:07:45 PM
I thought it might be a bullseye too but the girl seems to be standing behind it so I think it's transparent. I tried blowing the image up but that didn't help much, maybe some image enhancement later but I don't know if that will do any good.

The arrow thingie seems most logical to me, simply because the boys were very much into the cartoons of that day. But I'm still speculating wildly. 🙂

Ed.



Paul Bellamy


6/26/2008 7:17:00 AM


Whatever it is she appears to be holding it in her hand and it casts a shadow.... A lace parasol being spun?

Paul Bellamy

Phoenix


6/26/2008 12:16:49 PM
That crossed my mind also but I don't possess the wit or technology to clean up the picture as you have done. So I'll take the parasol, cartoon references and musical references and gamble that between us we are there or pretty darn close. 😎

improvise, adapt, overcome
win-win


6/26/2008 4:24:13 PM
Gents:

My money's on this: The 'spinning thingee' is a prop, which is 'hiding', sort of shadow-ily, the nudie figure behind, much like Sally Rand's 'bubble', and having nothing to do with the name 'Twannnngg', but probably quite distracting to enemy aerial gunners.


EDanaII


6/27/2008 3:51:03 PM
The only problem I have with the spinning prop theory is that, if done correctly, there should be something in the image suggesting three props rotating. Of course, I had to add the proviso "if done correctly" in that last statement because that could be what the original artist intended. Same with the parasol theory, if it's a parasol, then there should be something resembling ribs... "if done correctly." 🙂

Two cents.

Ed.



trump


8/29/2008 5:11:16 PM
Okay, I was searching for more photos of my Grandfathers plane and I came across this post. He was the Co-pilot of Twan-n-g-g-g... I've heard this story one hundred times, so maybe I can clear this up. He had always told me that orignally the girl was uncovered. Someone in the chain of command deemed the artwork a bit too unbecoming. Therefore, she was lightly covered with a lace umbrella. I'll read though his journal and see if I can get a little more detail.


Phoenix


8/30/2008 4:07:08 AM
Hey Trump,

Brilliant, simply brilliant I reckon you are dead on with that explanation and it would make sense to me for the following reasons. The nose art work of the 401st would not appear to be as "risque" as some of the other groups, "My Devotion" of the 351st springs to mind because I was tempted to build the model of this aircraft but I think my wife and daughters would have been "uncomfortable" with an unclad lady in the display cabinet!!! Secondly having read General Bowmans memoirs and what Robert Grilley had to say about the man in "Return from Berlin" I'm not sure he would have approved of "too unbecoming nose art" I may be talking utter bilge of course, but it's the impression I get. So thanks for the great imput guy clears things up no end.
Hope I haven't upset anyone!!!!

All the best

Dale

improvise, adapt, overcome