Jack Paul Gaffney

Military
media-26836.jpeg UPL 26836 " Sgt Jack Gaffney, [ San Bernardino, California ], has named his engine on a Boeing B-17 after his best back-home girl Judith sorry, but It's true- Judith will never receive from Dalton one-half of the loving care that her engine namesake does ". - Sgt Jack Gaffney of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st BG during his assignment as assistant crew chief on B-17F 42-5070 "Invasion II" (coded LL-A). In addition to his mechanic duties, Gaffney created "nose art" for seven different 91st BG Fortresses. He painted nose art for "Invasion II" (42-5070), "The Bad Egg" , "The Sky Wolf, Shamrock Special, Destiny's Child, Los Angeles City Limits, Sunkist Sue. Jack Paul Gaffney was born on Oct 16th, 1918 - passed away on July 17th, 2011. Sgt Benedict Borostowski Ball Turret Gunner climbs into his position for a photo in the background.

NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12473-60295AC.

Object Number - UPL 26836 - " Sgt Jack Gaffney, [ San Bernardino, California ], has named his engine on a Boeing B-17 after his best back-home girl Judith sorry, but It's true-...

Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. In addition to his mechanic duties, Sgt Gaffney created "nose art" for seven different 91st BG Fortresses. He painted nose art for "Invasion II" (42-5070), "The Bad Egg" (41-24484), "The Sky Wolf" (41-24527), "Shamrock Special" (42-29591), "Destiny's Child" (42-31812), "Los Angeles City Limits" (42-107018), "Sunkist Sue" (44-6293).

It has now been documented that Sgt Gaffney created Nose art for an Eighth aircraft. "Stinky" 41-9045



Awards: Bronze Star, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32183032
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16059365 / O-665326
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Egg
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 390th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Sky Wolf, Great Speckled Bird
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group line up for take off, a B-17 nicknamed "Stinky" leads the lineup. A censor has obscured a structure in the background. Passed as censored 17 Oct 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'New "Fortress" Makes History In The Air. Oct. 1942. The most striking development of the war in the air is undoubtedly the sensational success of the American "Boeing" Flying Fortresses in the daylight bombing of enemy-occupied territory. In the most recent operation 105 German craf
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stinky
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Los angeles city limits
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Shamrock Special" of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Shamrock Special
  • Unit: VIII Air Force Service Command 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

East Aurora, NY 14052, USA 16 October 1918 Son of Gladys E Gaffney.

Enlisted

3601 S Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA 25 October 1941 Fort MacArthur San Pedro, California

Died

Palm Desert, CA, USA 17 July 2011

Buried

Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County CA 21 July 2011 Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County California, USA
San Bernardino, CA, USA

Based

Bassingbourn Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added associations to the A/C 41-24484, 41-24527, 42-31812, 42-107018 & 44-6293 mentioned in his "Summary biography".

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Information from Paul Browne eagles-over-ireland.site50.net

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self

Jack Paul Gaffney: Gallery (5 items)