JEANIE
44-8501 B-17G
91/323

Actually assigned to 379th Bomb Group, this ship was on loan to the 91st for a single mission when it was lost on 6th January 1945. With the 323rd Squadron crew of 1/Lt.Cecil McConnell was a specialist from the 379th acting as the
Gee-H radar operator.

Heading for the marshalling yards at Cologne, as deputy group lead, “Jeanie” received a direct hit from flak in the right wing and immediately burst into flames. The aircraft entered a slow, flat spin with its No. 3 engine burning fiercely. As the ship started down the tail gunner came out of the tail, three others exited from the waist and another 3 tumbled from the nose hatch. Although 6-8 chutes were reported before the aircraft smashed into the ground, copilot Warren Smith, navigator Don Williams, bombardier Alan Hillman and the engineer George Turner were all killed.

"Story taken from Plane Names & Fancy Noses, by Ray Bowden"