384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II

Welcome to the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) Photo Gallery. This gallery makes available the photographic and documentary portion of the 384th BG record. All content on this gallery is visible to all visitors. Those wishing to enter a comment or contribute images will need to register and log in (links at left of Home page). Please register for an account when you need access beyond viewing gallery content. For additional information about the 384th BG, visit the 384th Bomb Group website⇗.

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19872_eb1_258x400.jpg 42-29636 BK*F, X-VIRGINThumbnailseb242-29636 BK*F, X-VIRGINThumbnailseb242-29636 BK*F, X-VIRGINThumbnailseb2

Earl Burke with B-17F 42-29636, "Ex-Virgin."

Earl Burke was a Toxic Gas Handler with the 854th Chemical Warfare Company.

Originally assigned to the 305th BG, 42-29636 bore the name "The Vanishing Virginian." Her original Navigator, Mal Sweet, suggested renaming her "The Virgin." A flak hit on May 14, 1943, above the "V" prompted yet another name change, de-flowering the plane and warranting the sobriquet "X-Virgin." Captain David Tyler brought her in to a belly-landing after returning from Schweinfurt on August 17, 1943, and the plane was transferred to the 384th Bomb Group. The "X-Virgin" survived her combat tour and was returned to the United States on May 12, 1944.

An exact copy of this photo was on the original site (old pages). Description and contribution taken from that copy.

Photograph courtesy of Earl Burke.

Dimensions
258*400
File
19872_eb1_258x400.jpg
Filesize
69 KB
Visits
2020

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