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Shirley Jean324th Squadron & 323rd Squadon
Serial # 42-107040 DF-D - OR-K Back Row - Left to Right Unknown; Unknown; Sgt. Doyle E. Humphrey (Idabel, Oklahoma), Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; Unknown; Unknown; Lt. John Lindahl, Pilot; Lt. Anthony A. Japak (Donora, Pennsylvania) Bombardier. Front Row - Left to Right Sgt. Raymond E. Bisson (Barre, Vermont), Radio Operator; Sgt. Gladyes (Jack) Wallace (Hayward, California), Waist Gunner; Sgt. Michael Fenchalk (Newcastle, Pennsylvania), Tail Gunner; Unknown; Unknown.
Shirley Jean Factoid - Shirley Jean was a B-17G (DF D) and was named after the crew chief's two daughters. The nose art was done 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 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. |
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