Initially assigned to 735BS in December 1944, towards the end of hostilities this B24 was transferred into the 733BS and recoded from H6 to F8. Who painted the nose art is not yet known but it may have been the result of the O'Leary crew's decision to name it. They flew it 11 times into combat.

The beautifully painted image is based on the popular Gil Elvgren pin-up entitled "French Dressing" which appeared on several other aircraft. In this case, the choice of title was a subtle play on words - such innuendo was common in nose art, often used to mislead higher authority when used with a more outrageous choice of imagery.

In common with many other Liberators assigned to 735BS, "Becoming Back" also sported the yellow and black squadron insignia on both sides, below the cockpit. Later addition of armour plate saw it repainted on but by the time it reached Willow Run only the tiniest piece showed because it had been painted out, presumably by the 491BG. It was transferred out into 491BG on 22 April 1945 but flew no missions with them and eventually lived up to its title by returning to Willow Run in the USA en route for scrapping.

My thanks to Roy Myers and Tom Reis for the information they have been able to provide and especially to Tom Brittan for his extensive list of mission details.

   
 

Known Mission List

Date	Pilot	Target	Notes
17 Jun 1944			Delivered to USAAF
23 Jul 1944			Assigned overseas
6 Dec 1944	Lt Alex S Wallace /	Minden-Mittelland aqueduct	Deputy lead high right 'B' Group
11 Dec 1944	Lt William L Garrett /	Hanau marshalling yards
24 Dec 1944	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Mainz / Mayen rail yards	Bomb load : 24 x 250 GPs
28 Dec 1944	Lt Ralph G Langley /	Neunkirchen Rail Yards	Bomb load: 20 x 250 GPs plus 2 x 500 M17 clusters
29 Dec 1944	Lt Raymond A McGilvary	Remagen rail/road bridge
30 Dec 1944	Lt Robert Q Rollins /	Euskirchen rail/road junction	Bomb load: 3 x 2000 GP
31 Dec 1944	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Coblenz rai/road bridge	Bomb load : 3x 2000 GPs
2 Jan 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Coblenz rail/road bridge	Bomb load :3 x 2000 GPs
3 Jan 1945	Lt John Walker /	Homburg rail yards
5 Jan 1945	Lt Robert G Rush /	Sobernheim - Neustadt	Bomb load: 20 x 500GPs
10 Jan 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Steinbrucke RR bridge	Bomb load :6 x 1000 GPs
13 Jan 1945	Lt John M Roth /	Rudesheim RR bridge	Landed away at Shipdham (44BG base)
15 Jan 1945	Lt Robert G Rush /	Reutlingen rail yards
16 Jan 1945	Lt Richard F McCarthy /	Magdeburg tank factory	Landed away at Peronne, France - stayed for several weeks
16 Feb 1945			467th Sub Depot repaired left rudder + maintenance
21 Feb 1945	Lt Robert G Thach /	Nurnburg rail yards
22 Feb 1945	Lt Robert G Thach /	(Halberstadt) - Oker
23 Feb 1945	Lt Robert G Thach /	Paderborn rail yards
24 Feb 1945	Lt John Ross /	Lehte marshalling yards
26 Feb 1945	Lt Jack M McKenzie /	Berlin marshalling yards
27 Feb 1945	Irving R Kraus /	Halle marshalling yards
28 Feb 1945	Lt John Walker /	Arnsberg marshalling yards
1 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Ingolstadt rail yards	Bomb load : 10 x 500# GPs
2 Mar 1945	Lt John Walker /	Magdeburg rail yards	Flak hit #1 tokio tank (replaced)
4 Mar 1945	Lt John Walker /	Giebelstadt airfield	Mission Recalled
8 Mar 1945	Lt David C Elmore Jr /	Siegen marshalling yards
9 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Munster rail yards	Bomb load : 44 x 100 GPs, 2 x 500 M-17 clusters
10 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Paderborn rail yards	Bomb load : 44 x 100 GPs, 2 x M-17 clusters
11 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Kiel U-boat yards	Bomb load ; 10 x 500 GPs
17 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Munster rail yards	Bomb load : 44 x 100 GPs, 2 x M-17 clusters
18 Mar 1945	Lt ted Hultgren /	Berlin Tegel tank factory
19 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Neuberg jet a/c airfields
21 Mar 1945	Lt Jack M McKenzie /	Achmer jet a/c airfield
24 Mar 1945	Lt Jack W Roth /	Wesel	Low level supply drop to troops - Deputy lead
25 Mar 1945	Lt Glenn V Campbell /	Ehmen oil storage depot	Replacement a/c - took off late
30 Mar 1945	Lt Joe Rogers /	Wilhelmshaven U-boat pens
31 Mar 1945	Lt Eugene O'Leary /	Brunswick rail yards	Transferred following day to 733th Bomb Sqn
4 Apr 1945	Lt Ralph G Langley /	Wesendorf airfield
5 Apr 1945	Lt Pierre J Farley /	Eger, Czech	Mission Recalled
6 Apr 1945	Lt Ralph G Langley /	Halle marshalling yards
8 Apr 1945	Lt Ralph G Langley /	Furth / Blumenthal airfield
10 Apr 1945	Lt Frederick H Bubier /	Rechlin / Wittenberg
22 Apr 1945			Transferred to 491BG as a/c "D+" (no combat missions) Returned USA -- Willow Run

 

© Ray Bowden 11 August 2022

 

Information Update for Readers of "Plane Names & Fancy Noses - 91st Bomb Group (Heavy)"