Originally assigned to 95BG at Framlingham, this B17F was transferred to 91BG in June 1943. Attributed with the name "Easy Aces" by its former operators, the plane became one of those tended by Assistant Crew Chief Gaffney after its arrival at Bassingbourn. Named by Jack, the Fort was a replacement for the recently lost "Invasion No.2". Jack's step-father was of Irish ancestry, hence the new title, and the nude pin-up on the right side clutched a carefully positioned shamrock to preserve her modesty. A second pin-up, kneeling with a bomb, was painted onto the left nose and, when in the sub-depot hangar for repair, a third was painted onto the tail fin. This near-lifesize nude was one of the very few examples of fin artwork to be seen in the 91BG. It was badly damaged in a taxi accident which almost finished Jack as well as "The Shamrock Special" when a another plane over-ran into the parked Fortress.

Repaired and returned to combat, this B17F completed 26 missions before being reassigned to Air Force Service Command due to the lack of long range Tokyo tanks.

   
 

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Plane Names & Fancy Noses

Known Mission List

Date	Pilot	Target	Notes
11 Jun 1943	K S Knowlton	Wilhelmshaven
13 Jun 1943	J W Johnson / ?	Kiel	5 e/a claimed by (TG)x2, (RW), (TT), (BT) (B0895-369)
22 Jun 1943		--	Transferred to 91BG
29 Jun 1943	H T Lay / E D Arp	Tricqueville (abortive)
14 Jul 1943	T G Wlson / P Berkey	Amiens
17 Jul 1943	T G Wlson / P Berkey	T/Op N.Germany	Cat A - friendly fire
26 Jul 1943	T G Wlson / P Berkey	Hamburg
28 Jul 1943	T G Wilson / P Berkey	Kassel (abortive-wx)
30 Jul 1943	T G Wilson / P Berkey	Kassel	(CP) WIA
15 Aug 1943	W H Wheeler / H J Bianchi	Flushing/Vlissengen	Cat B - flak + mg
24 Aug 1943	Capt D E Sheeler	Villacoublay
27 Aug 1943	F/O R A Pitts / K B Rutledge	Watten	Cat A - flak + mg
3 Sep 1943	Capt H T Lay / J Gelles	Romilly / Evreux	(TG) destroyed Fw190
15 Sep 1943	Capt H T Lay / J Gelles	Romilly
16 Sep 1943	Capt E M Lockhart / H H Evers	Nantes
23 Sep 1943	Capt H T Lay / C R Phillips	Nantes	Cat A - flak. 1 WIA
26 Sep 1943	Capt H T Lay / N A Daniels	Meulan (abortive)	Cat A - flak
8 Oct 1943		Bremen	R/E - (NS)
30 Dec 1943		Ludwigshaven	R/E - (NS) spare?
31 Dec 1943	W B Smith / H E Kirby	Cognac a/f	Cat AC - flak + shell cases. Me109 destroyed
11 Jan 1944	R S Roberts / F L Butler	Oschersleben	Cat AC - flak + self-inflicted + shell cases, landed @ Deopham Green
21 Jan 1944		Cherbourg	(NS) - did not take off
29 Jan 1944		Frankfurt	Cat A - flak
30 Jan 1944	I Piacentini / J A Rogers	Brunswick	Cat A - mg . 1 WIA - 20mm blew off leg
3 Feb 1944	I Piacentini / J A Rogers	Wilhelmshaven	Cat A - flak
4 Feb 1944	F Rentmeester / W W Behrend	Frankfurt
5 Feb 1944	H H Evers / F/O P G McDuffee	Avord a/f
6 Feb 1944	H H Evers / B D Moore	Nancy-Essey a/f (abortive)
20 Feb 1944	R S Roberts / Maj C D Lee	Liepzig - Aschersleben	Cat A - flak
21 Feb 1944	P R Coleman / R A Thompson	Achmer
22 Feb 1944		Bunde / Bielefeld	(NS) Not despatched
24 Feb 1944	J D Davis / A N Morey	Schweinfurt	Cat A - flak
18 Apr 1944	W S Burtt	Oranienburg	Minor BD - flak

 

© Ray Bowden 2 December 2023