"Pudgy V"
Reference Photos

by Gary Boyd

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There is a bit of controversy regarding Thomas B. McGuire's Pudgy V and whether or not he had the forward canted command stripes so characteristic of the 475th Fighter Group.

In my capacity as McGuire AFB's historian, I have the world's largest collection of McGuire photos and have this odd, but wonderful shot, of the reverse side, unornamented largely, of Pudgy V (see photo at top of page).

This was doubtless taken during a press opportunity he had after his famous Christmas Eve missions in 1944 where General Kenney saw fit to ground him so that he would not eclipse Dick Bong before he had at least received his welcome home!

 

Text Copyright © 2004 by Gary Boyd
Images Copyright © by USAAF / McGuire AFB History Office archives
Page Created 20 January, 2004
Last Updated 19 April, 2004

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