"LUCKY LADY"/"STRICTLY STELLA'S BABY"

USPS Stamp commemorating the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.
The original painting is by William S. Phillips.

The specific aircraft portrayed is "Lucky Lady" P-38J-10L-042, AAF serial #42-67427* (aka #42-104086), Squadron Code MC-H. This aircraft was the first 20th. Fighter Group P-38 to complete 300 Combat hours with no aborts on the original engines. For this the crew chief received the Bronze Star.

Among the first unpainted P-38s to be assigned to the 20th. FG, "Lucky Lady" was first assigned to Major R.C. Franklin,(who had been Jack Ilfrey's instructor at Luke Field,) then the 79th. FS CO and he flew his first combat mission as the CO in her on February 23, 1944, at that time the aircraft was named "Strictly Stella's Baby", in honor of the Major's wife.On March 3rd, 1944 the aircraft was flown on it's first mission to Berlin and back and by April it was handed over to Lt. Art Heiden, who, along with the crew, renamed it "Lucky Lady". A photograph of actress Laraine Day (shown at left)was later affixed to the nose of the aircraft and crew chief Max Pyles corresponded with Ms. Day, who seemed genuinely concerned about the aircraft and her crew. Heiden flew this plane on D-Day and all subsequent missions until the group transitioned to P-51 Mustangs in July, 1944.The aircraft was then transfered to a 9th. Air Force group.

In 1997 noted aviation artist William Phillips was commissioned by the United States Postal Service to create a series of paintings for their upcoming "Classic American Aircraft" series and this aircraft was chosen as the representative for all of the P-38 Lightnings produced. A second, less known honor is that Heiden, who is clearly visible in the cockpit, is one of only a handful of men to ever appear on an USPS stamp while still alive. The Postal Service dictates that there must be a waiting period of at least ten years for an individual to appear on a stamp. This aircraft is also portrayed in Ron MacKay's book "The 20th. Fighter Group."

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This photograph was chosen by the 20th. FG Assoc. to be included in the 20th. Fighter Group display
at the Mighty Eighth Heritage Museum in Savannah, GA as representative of the Lightnings the Group flew.

- Tally For "Lucky Lady" / "Strictly Stella's Baby" - - Presidential Unit Citation April 8, 1944 - Two Distinguished Flying Crosses (Maj. Franklin) - Two Distinguished Flying Crosses (Lt. Heiden) - Seven Air Medals (Maj. Franklin) - Five Air Medals (Lt. Heiden) - Bronze Star (T/Sgt. Max Pyles, crew chief) - Three E.T.O. Battle Stars - Three German Aircraft Destroyed In Air (Maj. Franklin) - Two German Aircraft Destroyed In Air (Lt. Heiden) - Seven German Aircraft Destroyed and Damaged On The Ground, (Franklin and Heiden) - 1,000 + Enemy personnel destroyed or damaged - Many railroad locomotives, rolling stock and cargo destroyed and damaged - Bombed airfields and marshalling yards. - Some river boats sunk or damaged - 324 combat hours without an abort on the original engines (First 20th. FG P-38 to do so. Crew chief Pyles awarded Bronze Star for this.) - Close Calls: L/Main and nose wheel landing gear doors shot off, Light anti-aircraft hit on horizontal stabilizer leading edge, much skin distortion and multitude of frag holes over complete tail group, control and structural integrity maintained below 120 M.P.H.** - Re assigned to the 370th.FG, 9th.AF, final fate unknown. *= According to Capt. Heiden, the serial number of this P-38 was somehow removed from the aircraft and the one from Heiden's previous Lightning (MC-F, later MC-H), which was destroyed in a crash by Lt. Vernon Beesley, was used in it's place. **= In a talk with Max Pyles he stated that the damage Capt. Heiden mentions was actually to a diferent P-38 Heiden flew and not the "Lucky Lady"

"Lucky Lady" shortly after being handed over to Lt. Art Heiden (second from left).
The three kill markings apparently remain from when the plane was assigned to Maj. Franklin.
Pictured with Heiden are (left to right) Max Pyles (Crew Chief,) Isadore Jaffe and Clyde Birdwell .
This was prior to Ms. Day's photo being affixed to the nose of the aircraft.

- The Ground Crew - "Pilot's heroes were our ground crews." -A.W. Heiden

Crew Chief: T/Sgt. Max Pyles, Nez Perce, Idaho

Radio: S/Sgt. John Cavalier, Smithers, WV

Sgt. Isadore Jaffe, Hibbing, Minn.

Asst. Crew Chief: Sgt. Clyde I. Birdwell, Wicita Falls, Tex.

Armorer: Sgt. Charles Fink, Hanover, Penn.

Sgt. Fink, Armorer, with the left gun door of "Lucky Lady" The panel appears to have been recently repainted, as the names of the crew and mission symbols have been added to glare panel and victory markings have been included.Also note photo of Ms. Day. Crew Chief Max Pyles stated that he had removed the door with the intention of having it shipped back to the states, but was not allowed to do so. MERCHANDISE FEATURING THE "LUCKY LADY" P-38 Stamp Lapel Pin (Featuring the "Lucky Lady" Winco International, P.O.Box 4117, Chatsworth,CA 91313, 800-543-5847. Cost = 250 @ $1.50ea. (These are about 2/3rd scale nicely done. This company also did the Tuskeegee Airmens' Mustang.) Collectors matted, signed Photo & Stamp of Lucky Lady. Eric Johnson, 822 Bay Breeze Ln., Altamonta Springs, FL 32714, 800-659-2680 (Autographed by Capt. Art Heiden and T/Sgt. Max Pyles) Until recently (June 30, 2000) The United States Postal Service still offered sheets of the "Classic American Aircraft" stamp series for $6.40 each. Also issued were full color postcards featuring the artwork, some of which can still be obtained through various second hand shops and internet auction sites such as E-Bay.

RETURN TO THE 20TH.FG
RETURN TO THE HEIDEN TRIBUTE
RETURN TO THE FRANKLIN TRIBUTE
RETURN TO THE PYLES TRIBUTE

Photographs, commentary and information provided by Capt. Arthur W. Heiden.

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