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From: tom@math.ufl.edu (Thomas J Gillen)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Eighth Air Force, wild paint jobs: "Little Gramper"?
Message-ID: <1991May29.010630.5436@amd.com>
Date: 28 May 91 13:30:13 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Department of Mathematics at the University of Florida
Lines: 25
Approved: military@amd.com


From: tom@math.ufl.edu (Thomas J Gillen)


	I recently came across a book of paint and marking schemes for
what seemed to be every single plane in the world, and I found a B-24
Liberator ("Little Gramper") which was painted as if it belonged to
Barnum & Bailey rather than the US Air Force. It was bright yellow,
with, I believe, green and red spots all over it. Striking, to say the
very least.

	The brief blurb mentioned that every bomber group (?) had
their own brightly painted ship to assist in formation, uh, formation:
the crazy-colored one would orbit above the field while the group
formed their box around it for the flight over the Channel, while the
Crazy One returned to field. Also mentioned was the fact that the
plane was usually a battle-weary vet. 

	Anyone know where I could find more information, photos,
mentions, etc. about these planes and their roles?  I assume the
pilots rotated duty in these planes? 

	Thanks, in advance.

	tom