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A TRIBUTE TO T/SGT. MAX PYLES
(Crew Chief "Lucky Lady"/"Stella's Baby" and "Jeanie-Marie")
By: Capt. Arthur W. Heiden, 79th.FS, 20th.FG

Wartime ad featuring crewmen arming a P-51
A wartime ad featuring crewmen arming a P-51 Mustang

� � � � Max Pyles is gifted with a superhuman mechanical ability and insite. This he demonstrated in WWII, Korean War, and Cold War in all types of aircraft, P-26's to B-36's to Jet's to ICBM's. Many times, I've asked him how on earth he came up with answers and perceptions to things that stooped others cold. He just Grins and says it's like a flash bulb going off in his head. Dead serious, he believes that the Lord tells him. I would not believe any other man telling me that, but I sure won't argue with him.

� � � When I started flying with the 79thFS, Max and his crew had just started crewing Maj. R. C.� Franklin's new airplane. Parked directly in front of the SQ. Operations building he was handy and always willing to answer any and all questions I might ask him. There I spent most of my time. I'm sure we were observed by Franklin and he had asked Max if he should run me off. However, when Franklin finished his combat tour, Max asked him to assign me as his replacement since my old plane had just been destroyed.

� � � P-38's were having all kinds of mechanical problems that no one except Max had an answer. Max had been saying that this situation was ridiculous and if I would listen to him and do as he said we were going to get through this without all those problems. I had listened to him for several months and was convinced that Max Pyles knew what he was talking about. Besides being very proud of the opportunity of this assignment, I was determined to do my part. Strong willed as could be, Max had no trouble expressing or letting anyone know how it should be. Max would be delighted to help anyone or answer there questions, but Private or Field Grade better not come around with Mickey Mouse or they had down-the-road directions. My contributions were to listen, ask questions, and try to build on what I had learned in Aircraft Mechanics School and in Flying School. What better world could you have with such as Max Pyles, R.C.Franklin, Mark Hubbard, and Harold Rau as superb teachers?


Max Pyles shows off the nose art of "Lucky Lady" (note photo of Laraine Day). In Sept.,1944, as crew chief for Capt. Robert Pubentz, Pyles and his crew had the best record flight time for the month in the 20th.FG.

� � � One day we were all at the A/C and Max sets us down under the R/Wing and asks me what should be the new name. I asked if anyone had a good name, but no one came up with one. I had been playing around with an inspiration, "Lucky Lady" so we would not be held down to only one girl friend and could be related to by all the crew and no tattoo to be embarrassed by later. The crew were quick to approve so that was decided. Laraine Day was very popular, at that time, with lonesome GI's, so Max asked us what we would think if he should write her and ask for a photo. Miss Day promptly answered with a nice letter and a beautiful negligee photo.

This photo was promptly attached to the L/gun door. Max and the crew wrote back and forth with Miss Day and she seemed very proud and interested in all events her airplane was involved in.

-- Capt. Arthur Heiden, May, 1999

Max Pyles autograph.
Max Pyles' Autograph

RETURN TO THE 20TH. FG


"Nothing is true in tactics" --Commander Randy "Duke" Cunningham, USN

(Photograph courtesy of Capt. Arthur Heiden)

Unless otherwise noted, all content � copyright The Art of Syd Edwards 1998-1999. All rights reserved and reproduction is prohibited.





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