The 316th Fighter Squadron's fiery patroness was created from ideals brought to light by a young pilot's wife, Mrs. David E. Carpenter. She was then given her form by the artful skills of a 314th pilot named Marve Warnke somewhere in the North African Desert in March of 1943.

Helen Harriman Carpenter, wife of flight leader, David E. Carpenter of the 316th gave a speech which inspired the Hell's Belles insignia. She spoke of the great losses women would suffer should Hitler's dream of world domination be realized.

With his wife's words still fresh in his mind, Captain Carpenter took to his drawing board and sketched out a rough outline of a flaming beauty. The sketch was then taken by Troy Upton and two other pilots across to the 314th's side of the field where Marve Warnke finalized the design and polished it to completion.

The Hellish Beauty was thought to possess the ability to be anywhere in the twinkling of an eye and could quickly vanquish gremlins, thus accounting for the squadron's top-ranking maintenance record. She was ever alert and the pilots under her protection delivered a devastating blow to the forces threatening the ideals she represented.

Quote from Helen Carpenter's speech: "Women have the most to lose would Hitler achieve his dream of world domination, and in Germany they've lost the most. Why,
all women are for in Nazi Germany is to bring future soldiers into the world and it's the same way throughout German -dominated Europe. Women everywhere, on earth, in heaven, and in hell surely must resent the treatment Hitler's triumphs have given them. That's why I think our insignia should have something to do with women."