Catch-22 Inspired Dog Names

When it comes to fictional bombardiers, few are as famous as Captain John Yossarian, the World War II B-25 bombardier from Catch-22. While the book itself doesn’t detail any notable interactions with dogs, history itself holds quite a roster of WWII canine heroes, including one who actually accompanied his owner on bombing missions: Antis. 

During the war, two Royal Airforce troops (Václav Robert Bozděch and Pierre Duval) were sent on a reconnaissance mission over the German front. During the flight, their plane was shot down and crashed into no-man's land between German and French lines. When they reached the nearest cover, an old farmhouse, they found an emaciated German Shepherd puppy. Although they barely had any food, they offered the dog chocolate, which had to be melted for the dog to eat, as well as water made from melted snow. 

Knowing the German forces would soon be after them, the two departed that night, locking the dog in the farmhouse with chocolate and water. Before they were able to reach the tree line, the sky lit up with German flares, indicating an impending search. In turn, the puppy began howling so the men decided they had to kill the dog in order to keep from being found. But when Bozděch went back to do so as humanely as possible, he found he couldn’t and instead tucked the puppy in his jacket. When they made it to the tree line, they were discovered by French troops and taken to safety. 

After moving through several barracks during the war, several of which were nearly destroyed, Bozděch decided to adopt the dog and named him Antis after a Czech aircraft. Shortly after, Ant took on his first combat mission with his master and showed poise in the aircraft, even with Bozděch firing at Germans, and ended up flying with his owner in nearly 30 missions. When the unit was disbanded and sent back to the UK, they had to make their way on foot and used Ant as both a distraction and a guide to avoid enemy troops. When Ant kept falling off their cart and slowing progress, Bozděch decided to carry him. When faced with a strict no animal policy on two separate ships, Bozděch smuggled him aboard, as well as into the UK at the end of the trip due to the quarantine restrictions. 

Both Bozděch and Antis went on to assist in search parties and when finally sent home the two went as a pair. When Bozděch had to flee Czechoslovakia from persecution, Antis helped he and others escape. He was given a Dickin Medal, the animal’s Victoria Cross, in 1949 for his heroics.