34th Fighter Squadron Showing the P-47 Thunderbolt Nose Art on Ole Droopy Drawers

Dear Mr. Dyrek,

 My grandma was a WAAC, and she was in the motorpool. She has some great stories about driving Wendell Wilkie and meeting with Curtis Lemay. The story about Droopy Drawers is really just a family anecdote, but it’s a favorite. She was with my grandfather while he was stationed on Okinawa and was walking down the street one day and the elastic on her underwear gave out while she was walking in front of a group of airmen. Well, as you may imagine, there were many whistles and catcalls and such, and she scurried home thinking it was one of the more embarrassing moments of her life. She was even more embarrassed when, a few weeks later, her husband took her to see the freshly painted plane, “Droopy Drawers”. So we don’t actually have proof that it’s based on that incident, but it would be a major coincidence if not! Especially as I just learned from her today the he was with the 34^th as an armament chief – Albert “Jack” Shields. I never knew that – I always just knew he was with the “ Hollywood 8^th” when it went to England , but apparently that was his first tour with the service. When he re-upped, he was with the 34^th. They stayed on Okinawa until they opened up the Philippines for families. Then they spent some time there before coming back to the States. 

My grandfather passed on a few years ago, but I will scan and send pictures of him as well. We’re off on a week-long trip in San Diego tomorrow, but I will try to get to them after that. 

Hope all is well, and I’m glad I could make your day yesterday; it certainly made mine as well! 

Roni Leland