Photos of Pallas Athene Christening


This article in The Stars and Stripes gives details about how the name Pallas Athene, the GI Jane, was chosen for #42-100187.


Pfc Emma Utter adjusts Jane's make-up.                             ;               ;               Cpl. Hazel Bliss Christens GI Jane, 11 Feb. 1944


A large crowd had gathered to watch Cpl Hazel I. Bliss, a switchboard operator, break a bottle of soda on one of the nose guns to christen Pallas Athene. Pvt Lucille Carter and Cpl Frank Usis got drenched by the spray. Among the on-lookers were Col Irvine A. Rendle, 392nd BG commander (in Eisenhower jacket just behind Cpl Bliss); Maj Warren Polking, 578th Sqdn commander (immediately behind Col Rendle); members of 2/Lt Neely Young's crew, who agreed to have "their" plane named in honor of the WACS;, and T/Sgt Lowell D. Hale, who was #187's crew chief.



A B-24 even buzzed the field!


This photo shows Jane as a tested veteran of many combat missions.