The 490th BG (H) were based at RAF Eye (Station 138) and had several ‘claims to fame’.
Adorning their aircraft, was some of the most provocative nose art of any USAAF aircraft. Seemingly uncensored, like other aircraft of the mighty Eighth, they wore full length nudes and made references to prostitutes of the day – unheard of at the time.
RAF Eye is now an industrial estate, where wind turbines have replaced the propellers of lumbering B-17s, the runway remains in its entirety but the threat of further development continues to increase.
RAF Eye is part of Trail 14
Photo: 490th Bomb Group, USAAF via Eric Swain (via http://www.controltowers.co.uk/e/eye.htm)
Aviation Trails 
On one of the 43rd Bomb Group B-17s (Yankee Didd’ler), someone had to paint underwear on the original nose art after it was deemed too provocative. Evidently, the crews in Europe and in the Pacific had similar ideas of what to paint on their planes
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This has turned out to be a fascinating topic and one I shall look into much, much further. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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