Haybag Annie

Who was Haybag Annie, and why haven’t more of us heard of her? Haybag Maddie is on a mission to change that.

The Remarkable Haybag Annie
#mistressoftheair

Numbers, stencils, slogans, artwork, for restoration or decoration, Haybag Maddie loves a challenge and will tackle anything from a ration tin to A2 jackets and warbird nose art – following in the footsteps and brush-strokes of her inspiration, the legendary Haybag Annie. But who was she?

Her signature nose art and handpainted A2 flying jackets are immediately recognisable, but outside of the real-life ‘masters of the air’ and those who research them, very few have heard of her.

Anne Haywood had picked up a paintbrush as a toddler and was destined for art school in Paris until WW2 intervened. Eager to do her bit Anne tried to join the British Red Cross, but because of her Austrian mother the British rejected her. Their loss was undoubtedly the American’s gain. Accepted by the American Red Cross Anne found herself working at the Aero Club at Great Ashfield, home of the 385th Bomb Group.

The Hostess With The Fortress

Dispensing smiles, sympathy, a shoulder to cry on and endless cups of coffee and donuts, Annie Haywood was a great hostess and a success as a ‘Donut Dolly’, but it wasn’t long before her artistic talents were recognised by the men of the Mighty Eighth.

Beginning with wall murals in both the Aero and Officers Clubs, she soon graduated to painting the nose art on the B17 Flying Fortresses, and the patches and jackets of the crews who flew them.

From all accounts she was adored by the crews and the big brass too, including Lt. Col. Vandervanter, the 385th’s CO. Vandervanter considered her presence and her art such a morale booster for his men that he wrote to the local Labour Exchange to request a deferment from other war work for Annie, so she could stay at Great Ashfield.

Vital to the bomb group, but not part of the USAAF, under Vandervanter’s instructions Annie was driven out to the ships on the remote hardstands by an MP in a jeep because she wasn’t authorised to use the base bus. When she got there the attractive 24-year old cheerfully translated the ideas and whims of the crews into striking and beautiful nose art, often perching on piles of bombs so she could reach the fuselage.

From Disney characters to half-naked ladies Annie painted whatever the crews asked for, often having to go back and paint a few more clothes on when the order came to cover the ladies up some!

When a new Fort arrived already adorned with the moniker ‘Haybag’, someone suggested it be renamed Haybag Annie in her honour. She was persuaded to paint her self-portrait on it. Holding a cup of coffee she added the words, ‘Good ole gal’. And a legend was born.

Haybag Annie remained with the 385th, and was present at the October 1944 celebration of the group’s 200th mission at Great Ashfield, which saw the Windmill Girls perform and also Glen Miller and his Band in possibly the last performance before his tragic disappearance.

Whereas the Flying Fortress bearing her name is iconic, the story of its namesake seems to have been lost to time.

An Unsung Heroine of WW2

Annie-01-Time Team S06EP08 Reedham Marshes-Norfolk

Haybag Annie survived the war and married, becoming Annie Gordon, and attended the 1975 385th reunion at Great Ashfield. In the 1990’s Annie made a brief appearance on the UK series Time Team (you can watch the video here), where she demonstrated the technique that had created so much iconic warbird and A2 art.

Haybag Annie Gordon died in 1999, coincidentally the same year that Haybag Maddie was born, but very little has been written about her remarkable wartime exploits.

Ever since discovering Annie’s story and her work, Maddie has found her an inspiration. Taking the name ‘Haybag Maddie’ is both an homage to a great artist, and an encouragement for others to discover and celebrate the amazing story of an unsung woman of WW2.

The Mighty Eighth were certainly the masters of the air, but Haybag Annie was the mistress of the air.

Her namesake Maddie is on a mission to research and raise the profile of Haybag Annie, so if you or anyone you know has more information about her please do get in touch!

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