Noseart - "Japanese Sandman"
“Japanese Sandman” was the name of a popular song back then.  I thought it was a catchy name, so that was what I named the P-38 that I flew.

After my first plane got cracked up after the April 12, 1943 mission, I named my second P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" 42-66905

Nickname "Snuffy" Smith
There was a character in the old Barney Google cartoon comic strip named "Snuffy" Smith. (The cartoon has since changed artists several times, and is now the "Snuffy Smith" you see on your comic page.) About the time our bunch arrived in New Guinea, the character "Snuffy" recieved a kangaroo from Australia - the guys all got a big kick out of it, and thought it a good name for me.

First Victory
I really don’t remember my first kill, to be honest with you.  It was a Zero.  I got a total of two Zekes, Two Tonys, Two Oscars and a Betty.  That is what I tell people if they ask.  But to be honest with you, I really don’t remember all the details about each one too much, dont think about it much. I keept a diary of all the places where I was, and my logbook of all my missions.  It tells a lot, but not the serial numbers of the planes I flew.  But, Japanese Sandman was #26 and Japanese Sandman II was #33, I know that.

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