USAAF Nose Art Research Project

My Irish Colleen
B-24J-200-CO 44-41176

307th Bomb Group

Nose art painted by
Pfc Joseph ORIGLIO
307th Bomb Group
New Guinea & Luzon & Morotai

Photo courtesy of George Jankos

The original art work Joe used as inspiration was Miss December from the 1942 Esquire Magazine calendar painted by Alberto Vargas. The original image was modified from a Christmas theme to an Irish one by the addition of a shamrock.

In August 1944 this B-24 left California for the Pacific Theater of Operation and became part of the 307th Bomb Group. The plane was assigned to Lt. James M. Line of the 371st Bomb Squadron. Tragically on February 27, 1945 on a mission to Tarakan, Borneo, the plane and crew were reported missing in action and never seen again.