VULGAR VIRGIN
42-29642
B-17F
91/323 OR-L

This was another early 323rd Squadron Fortress whose service history has proved difficult to establish. The aircraft left Marrakesh on the 14th March 1943 on the way to England and is noted as being assigned to the 323rd Squadron two days later. Squadron records for the early period of combat operations lack the vital individual aircraft identification but the squadron participated in ten missions between 16th March and 13th May. Vulgar Virgin is known to have flown on only three of these for certain, but there may have been others.

On 5th April a gunner on the crew claimed one FW190 ‘probable’ while flying to Antwerp and on 17th another Fw190 was claimed as destroyed over Bremen. The only other mission Vulgar Virgin is known to have flown on was the 13th May raid to Meaulte from which it failed to return. The target that day was the Avions-Potez aircraft factory near St. Omer and as soon as the formation crossed the coast it came under persistent attacks from German fighters. Flying Vulgar Virgin that day, for the first time, was 1/Lt. Lawrence Stark. Alongside him, in the copilot’s seat, was John Evins who had flown the ship on previous occasions. Just after crossing the target over Abbeville, shortly after 1630 hours, a German fighter poured machine gun and cannon fire into the cockpit area and port wing of the plane. The No. 2 engine burst into flame and smoke poured from the cockpit as the ship slid away from the formation into a circular flight path before exploding. Eleven men were on board that day. The extra member of the crew was a photographer observer. Only three survived the attack and subsequent disintegration of the plane.

It is not known what form the aircraft’s nose art took or who named it but possibly it was 1/Lt. John Evins and members of his crew who were flying under the command of Lawrence Stark on that last mission. Both men were among those that died.

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