donkirk
10/12/2009 3:09:05 PM | This is an update of my original post on this topic.
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I hope this is not only of interest but may help others looking for Ice Cold Katy(s) and the crews
who flew them.
Most of the USAAF crews were young, barely out of their teens, and the names they gave their
aircraft reflect that -- a virtual catalog of what was happening in the US just before and during the
war. For example,
Comic strip characters
Fearless Fosdick - Al Capp's takeoff on Dick Tracy
Radio Shows
Madame Queen (Amos and Andy)
Duffy's Tavern
Fitch's Bandwagon (Fitch's hair tonic sponsor)
Products
Southern Comfort
And songs and music
Pistol Packin' Mama
Stormy Weather
I'll Be Seeing You
Arkansas Traveler (old fiddle tune)
Sleepy Time Gal
And, yes,Ice Cold Katy
Published in 1942; Music by Arthur Schwartz, lyrics by Frank Loesser
Performed by Hattie McDaniel in "Thank Your Lucky Stars", 1943
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036422/
At least five heavy bombers were called "Ice Cold Katy, four B-17s and one B-24. One of the B-17s
used the alternate spelling "Katie". Two Katys survived and returned to the States to be scrapped;
the other three were lost. At least one or two newer smaller planes have also been called "Ice Cold
Katy." The bombers were:
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SN 43-38183 Ice Cold Katie. 94th BG, 332 Sq. One pilot, Torgerson, identified. Delivered 4 July 1944, assigned to the 332nd Bombardment Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group, at Rougham UK, 22 July 1944, coded XM-J, Ice Cold Katie. Transferred to the 379th BG 23 July 1944, then to the 457th BG on 24 April 1945, returned to the US in 1945; two sources say 12 April and 1 July; scrapped 25 November 1945. A B-17G-65 built by Boeing.
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SN 42-37824 Ice Cold Katy. Assigned to 447th Bomb Group Rattlesden Oct. 21, 1943. 709 BS or 711 BS (apparently 711 BS at time of last mission). Leigh crew MIA on Oschersleben raid January 11, 1944; ditched in the North Sea.
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SN 42-107039 Ice Cold Katy. Assigned to 401st Bomb Group Deenethorpe 23 Mar 1944, flew mainly with
612th squadron; returned to US 7 Jun 1945. Flew 76 documented missions between 6 Aug 1944 and 20
Apr 1945 (401st Group missions between 124 and 254). There is some evidence for undocumented flights earlier than 6 Aug 1944.
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SN 42-7582 (44th BG, 66th BS, Ice Cold Katy)
Ford built B-24H-1 in midair collision with P-47 Mar 7, 1944 over Shipham airfield, UK during
training flight. All crew killed.
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SN 42-31512 Assigned to 390th BG. Accepted by USAAF 10 Nov 43. Denver Mod Center 11 Nov 43. Kearney 27 Nov 43. Manchester 23 Dec 43. Presque Isle 25 Dec. 43. 8th AF 31 Dec. 43. Hit a tree at Grundisburgh while being slow timed on Jun 44. Salvaged 4 Jun 44. All KIA.
(Info from 390th BG Web site'
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Thanks to several people who provided part of this information; some has been quoted directly from
their messages.
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