media-414198.jpg FRE 8021 Private First Class Emma Utter of the Women's Army Corps paints the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-50505) nicknamed "Pallas Athene- The GI Jane" of the 392nd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'A W.A.C. Christens A Liberator. To honour their khaki-klad sisters, the W.A.C.S. - members of the crew of a Liberator, operating from a British base, painted on their ship the W.A.C. insignia - the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Pallas Athene and named the 'plane G.I. Jane. (G.I. stands for Government Issue and has become the American slang for Army personnel). The original "G.I. Jane" - Cpl. Hazel I. Bliss of Portland, Oregon, performed the christening ceremony. The plane, until now only known by its call letter, V for Voctory[sic], belongs to a Liberator group which bagged 45 enemy aircraft in less than a six month period. Keystone Photo Shows:- PFC Emma Utter of Sagola, Mich. is clever with the brush so she puts the finishing touches to the W.A.C. insignia. JW/F. Keystone. 14-15-16-17.' Censor no: 304772. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection