World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Donald E. Allen
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cleveland, Ohio
Honored By
An Indebted American
SERVED AS A CREW CHIEF WITH THE 4TH FIGHTER GROUP, 334TH FIGHTER SQUADRON IN ENGLAND. KNOWN FOR HIS NOSE ART ON FIGHTER PLANES. AS A SIDELINE, WAS COMMISSIONED BY FIGHTER PILOTS TO PAINT FANCIFUL DEPICTIONS OF THEIR WIVES, GIRLFRIENDS, FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTERS OR OTHER SUBJECTS ON THEIR PLANES. PAINTED 65 DESIGNS, PRIMARILY ON P-47 THUNDERBOLT AND P-51 MUSTANG FIGHTERS. VOLUNTEERED AS A WAIST GUNNER ON A B-17 DURING A SHUTTLE OF BOMBERS FROM ENGLAND TO ITALY TO RUSSIA IN 1944. MADE THE TRIP TO SERVICE AIRCRAFT AT EACH STOP ALONG THE WAY. WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL FOR HIS ROLE IN THE MISSION.