"The Knockout Drops" Jacket "The Knockout Drops" was selected by the crew as the nickname for their B-17G and the radio operator painted appropriate artwork on the aircraft and the crew's jackets. The donor flew as flight engineer and gunner on 26 bombing raids between September 1944 and May 1945, plus food drop missions to the Netherlands and one to Austria to transport French slave laborers home. The spider insigne on the jacket front (not shown) is that of the 4th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, based at Mendelsham, England. This jacket was donated by Mr. Harry F. Hoffman, Pine Grove, Penn. Click here to return to the WWII Aviator Jackets Overview. Find Out More Related Fact Sheets Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Note: The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the National Museum of the USAF, the U.S. Air Force, or the Department of Defense, of the external website, or the information, products or services contained therein.