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This photograph appears to be of the artist who painted the nose art on the ships of the 323rd Bomb Group in his living quarters with a preliminary sketch, which he may have used in a transfer technique, in Earls Colne, Essex sometime prior to May 20, 1944. According to what Ernie Pyle, author of "Brave Men",reported in the chapter entitled "The Flying Wedge", the artist appears to be Lt. C. V. Cripe, a bombardier.
Group
The 323rd Bombardment Group operated with B-26 Marauders, American medium bombers. They were the first Eighth Air Force Group to fly a medium level bombing mission with this aircraft on 16 July 1943. After flying a total of 33 missions with the Eighth,...
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Selected Bibliography of Publications:
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier
Lt. Corvan V. "Oripe" Cripe was a bombardier with the 456th Bomb Squadron. Based on the reporting of Ernie Pyle, he was the artist responsible for painting mush of the nose art and pinup art in the officers' clubs.
Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier, B-26 Marauder
Dale Rush served with the 456th BS as a bombardier. He was killed on May 20, 1944 on a mission to Dieppe when "Ole 33 Gal" WT-A Serial No. 41-35033, flying in the Box II, Flight 3 lead position, took a direct hit of heavy flak that shattered the...
Military site : airfield
Earls Colne was built in 1941 as an airfield for No.3 Group, RAF Bomber Command, although never used as such. Assigned to the US Eighth Air Force (as Station 358) in 1942, its 36 hardstands were increased to 50, bringing the airfield up to Air Ministry...
