As America's young men were shipped off with the military during World War II, they were forced to leave their sweethearts behind. They were stationed in far away lands ranging from the freezing cold of the Aleutians to the sweltering jungles of the South Pacific. It was a lonely and miserable duty but they answered their nation's call to duty and they bravely answered that call! But young men or young men regardless of the time or place in history they find themselves and World War II was not different!
Therefore, it was not long before the "pin-up" posters began to emerge! They could be found everywhere from a guy's foot locker or duffel bag to the nose of his aircraft. Many of Hollywood's starlets became the endearing symbol that decorated so many of our military aircraft.
But the ladies of Florida State College for women were not to be denied their "own" poster pleasure! In March 1945, they came together and voted on their choice of young men to adorn their own college dormitories. They chose 19-year old Navy Ensign Joseph Smith from Tampa, Florida. What would you want to be it wound up marrying a young lady from FSCW, perhaps Barbara Fennell from Tampa?
Ensign Joseph Smith, US Navy
Pensacola News Journal 3-4-1945
Full Pensacola News Journal Article 3-4-1945
Betty Gable the most popular pin-up girl of WWII
No decent military aircraft of WWII was without its good luck pin-up girl!