The following notations about the 9FS, are from FIGHTER COVER publication, Volume 4, No. 15 - Sunday, June 6, 1943

     Nothing like the personal touch --- and they really have it in the 9th. 
    They've started glamorizing their planes. 
    Some planes bore the names of the little woman or the gals the pilots left behind. A new innovation, however, is gaudily painted crests and coats of arms of the pilots and their crew chiefs. Some mighty odd combinations come out of that.

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PYRAMIDAL PIN-UPS

     No house is a home, and that goes for tents too, without the subtle touch of a woman, so they say in the 9th Sq. But they've found the answer -- Pin-Up girls! 
    Every tent has its collection, and all pictures hold places of prominence. Brownettes, goldies, hennas -- even the girl back home -- grace the interiors of G.I. pyramidals. It's a close race between Hedy Lamarr, Jane Russell, Gene Tierney, Maria Montez, Goddard, Grable, Hayworth, etc, etc, etc. At present Jane Russell has the popularity nod from the masses -- her eyes are so-o-o beautiful in a sweater. 
     It's surprising the effect the Pin-Ups produce. The tents are neater, men shave more often -- even profanity is cut down.

November 1944 Newspaper article (AP) 
featuring 9FS and 49FG leading scores

  "The victories boosted the total for the Flying Knights squadron to 250, making them the leading twin-engine flighter squadron in the Southwest Pacific.
   They also sent the total scores for the 49th fighter group, the Americans' top scoring outfit, to 566, of which 78 have been recorded since they arrived in the Philippines less than three weeks ago."

This hand- made coconut shell "patch" pin was made by local residents in the Philippines, and purchased by Warren Fowler for 2 pesos, summer of 1945. "9th FIGHTER SQDN." "& "49th FTR. GRP." is painted on it, with metal pin on the back.

Short snorters were bills, usually one dollar denomination but not necessarily, that many folks in service carried with them to gather autographs of the great and near-great. The greater the signatores, the greater the prestige of the collector, thus a Lindbergh or a MacArthur signature holder would "outrank" other snorters. When the orginal bill was full of signatures, a second bill would be scotch-taped in trail for added signatures. A really veteran short snorter might be six or more feet long. The thing was, the owner of such an autograph album was expected to produce his snorter whenever and wherever challenged by fellow snorter holders. Failure to do so would result in buying drinks for the house or other suitable punishment.

Flying cadets usually began their snorters before commis- sioning or immediately after, gathering signatures from their instructors, close friends and any luminaries they were fortunate enough to encounter. Being asked to sign some- one's snorter was a mark of great respect.

by Ken Clark, 9FS WWII