‘Skipper’, one of the longest serving B-17 Fortresses of the war, returning to Thurleigh on a cold afternoon in late January 1945. Flying with the 367th Squadron of the 306th Bomb Group, ‘Skipper’ was badly damaged in November 1944, repaired and returned to service to finish the war with over 100 combat missions flown. Depicted here, the bare metal replacement section in the tail, and several flak patches, have yet to be repainted by her busy ground crew.

Signed by, Major PAUL H. GREER, Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM P. KINCHELOE
First Lieutenant DON NIELSEN, and Captain ROBERT PARIS