Post by MCDemuth on Feb 10, 2017 17:28:18 GMT -5
WWII Tributes & B-17 "Flying Fortress" Bomber: The "Ginger Rogers"
Ginger proudly mentions in her Autobiography, "Ginger: My Story" (1991), that in World War II, while she was frequently working hard to do her part to support various US war efforts, such as entertaining the troops and selling war bonds...
Many servicemen honored her....
VARIOUS WWII TRIVIA:
Anne Frank ... Who is one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust, due to the publication of her diary, in which she documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II... pasted this photo of Ginger, which was cut out from a 1940 issue of Libelle magazine, onto her bedroom wall in the secret annex.
Ginger Mentioned...
That she received a letter from a soldier who was captured by the Japanese, and was able to escape the prison camp he was being held at, because all the guards were engrossed in watching the movie: "Tom, Dick and Harry" (1941)
Soldiers in Italy were saved during a battle, because "Ginger Rogers" was used as a password.
Members of a Tank Division found a life size cardboard cut-out of Ginger wearing a dancing dress, and attached it to the front of their tank in India, and their "mascot led the way!"
The B-17 "Flying Fortress" Bomber
"Ginger Rogers"
"Ginger Rogers"
Ginger said she received letters from an Air Crew, who nicknamed their WWII B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber, the "Ginger Rogers" after her...
They told her how well "she ducks in and out of the shells thrown up at us, like the dancer she is."
Ginger states: "The Original Plane Was Scrapped" after the war.
I visited a website, about a year ago, which I can't remember the location of now, and I found this picture (with no information) there.
ATTENTION: Notice the "2/Star Circle Logo" on the bottom left corner of the Artwork, and the number on the nose is F987.
The men in the picture appear to be a real WWII Crew. So... I am guessing, that this is the "Ginger Rogers" that flew during the war, and the crew of that plane, is the one that Ginger mentions.
In 1982, the British television drama: "We'll Meet Again"... made in 1981-1982, featured a B-17G in their show. The B-17G character was named the "Ginger Rogers". It was nearly identical in paint and markings to the original WWII plane that Ginger Mentions...
But, there are a couple of minor differences on the nose... and some other differences (SEE "SALLY B" BELOW)
NOTICE: the markings on the bottom left corner of the Artwork are slightly different which says "RED Raiders" and has a little bomb painted on it... The number on the nose is E784
Here is an upclose look at the Artwork.
As far as I know, there were only two B-17s, to ever go by the name of "Ginger Rogers", which had nearly identical artwork... and since the original was scrapped right after World War II, most photos that you will find will be on the one featured in the TV Show...
Here is that "Ginger Rogers" in Flight:
Isn't she beautiful!
I have had the pleasure to see a couple of other B-17Gs at airshows...
I feel quite certain, that Ginger would have loved seeing her name sake flying through the air!
B-17G "Sally B"
Serial# 44-85784
Actress
Serial# 44-85784
Actress
As I mentioned above, the TV Show needed a B-17G character, which was named the "Ginger Rogers". What many people may not know, this B-17G character was not genuine. This B-17G was just an actress in costume for the role.
This "Ginger Rogers" was played by the "Sally B"! ... You may have heard of her!
The "Sally B", however, did retain her Serial # of 44-85784 in her role as the "Ginger Rogers". You can see the markings as "485784" on her tail.
The "Sally B" also has another acting credit to her name.
In 1990, the "Sally B" also starred as the famous B-17F "Memphis Belle", in some scenes in the movie: the "Memphis Belle" (1990)
After the movie, the "Sally B" was repainted, but she still retains the "Memphis Belle" artwork on the right side of her nose.
The "Sally B" STILL flies today near her home in Duxford, England.
And she is the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe.
Learn more here:
B-17 Preservation Ltd
"The Sally B Website"
www.sallyb.org.uk