Delivered Tulsa 3/2/44; Grenier 17/3/44; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-K] Bassingbourn 1/4/44; 324BS [DF-D]; on mission 27/5/44 with Capt ? Juehl, Waist gunner: Walter Meader (KIA – in fighter attack); returned safely after slight mid-air collision with 44-6151 over Peterborough with John Lindahl 5/12/44; 98+m battle damaged over Stuttgart 3/3/45 with John Lindahl, but got back to base; XXX (MACR 9469?);RetUS Bradley 11/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 15/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 14/12/45. SHIRLEY JEAN.



Shirley Jean was named after the crew chief's two daughters. The nose art was painted by Tony Starcer and was taken from Esquire's Vargas Girl Calendar, August 1943. She flew 7 combat sorties with the 324th, was transferred to the 323rd for a few missions, then came back to the 324th in the latter part of July 1944. Shirley Jean survived the war with the 91st BG with a total of 98 missions during 18 months of combat. Her last mission was on March 8, 1945, which was approximately six weeks before the 91st Group's last mission. Crewman Bert Larson's uncle, Halmar Larson, created a beautiful orange flowered rhododendron and he named it Shirley Jean to honor his nephew Bert Larson. He sent it to England where it's now growing in the Queen's garden.