Photograph from North American, taken near Inglewood, California, USA, spring 1944
APS No. 2871
07/31/2023. Remarks by
Johan Visschedijk: "Factory fresh on a test flight near the North American factory at Inglewood, this aircraft was subject of a photo shoot for Life Magazine. Assigned to the 358th Fighter Squadron of the 355th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, it was shipped to RAF Steeple Morden, 10 mls (16 km) west of RAF Duxford, England. It received the squadron code YF-K and was named "Baby Buggy", being flown by Lieutenant Ward Douglass. When the aircraft was transferred to Lieutenant W. Tolby it was renamed "Darling Jane" after Tolby's wife. On the right side of the nose was written "Darling Marion", referring to a relative of the Crew Chief."