From: Cub Driver

As I get deeper into Flyboys, my irritation increases. Bradley
regularly refers to the North American B-25 Mitchell bomber as a
Billy.

Matilda or Gertrude, maybe, but not Billy. Definitely not a male but a placid,
homely, dependable, strong-as-an-ox female.

As to "flyboy," I asked an old friend if he ever recalled being referred to by
anyone as "flyboy," and he said, "No....., unless it was in a bar and some
gyrine used it while trying to muscle in on my girl. Broken beer bottle fight
following immediately, of course."


Chris Mark