43-31185, Satchel Lass

447th Bomb Group
USAAF Station 126 - Rattlesden
43-31185, Satchel Lass

43-31185, "Satchel Lass," a B-17G-5-BO, was built by Boeing and delivered to the Army Air Force on September 29, 1943. It was one of the original 708th Squadron aircraft, ferried across the Atlantic to Rattlesden in November 1943. On board were:

Capt. Gene C. Smith	Opns O (P)
2nd Lt Arthur R. Socolfsky	Pilot
2nd Lt Wray N. Nylton	Navigator
1st Lt Robert W. Van Longen	Bombardier
Sgt Howard L. Rothermel	ROG
M/Sgt Thomas Maggerty	Sq Line Chief
S/Sgt John F. Dolan	Sq Opns Clerk
S/Sgt George H. Bonnett	Engineering
M/Sgt Johnie M. Holcomb	Engineering
Sgt Robert C. Wilson	Gp Comm Clerk
Source: Sp. Order No. 272

Combat Missions

[Pending]

The source within the 447th of the name Satchel Lass and the distinctive nose art is not known. The painting was copied from a well-known pin-up, painted by Alberto Vargas. The artwork is seen as early as February, 1944. The name Satchel Lass was added sometime between February and May.

Photographed in February, after 13 missions
(From B-17 Flying Fortress Story by Roger Freeman)

Photos taken around April-May 1944, 37 missions flown

Lass and the original by Vargas

Bits & Pieces Project records that 42-31185 crash landed on September 4, 1944. There was no mission flown on that day, and Lt. McKahan flew her on the Brest, France mission one day earlier. Shields' History makes no mention of any difficulties on that mission, nor on the following day. It's possible that the crash landing occurred during a non-combat training flight. She returns to Shields' mission summaries on September 22 and for a few times until October 9 when Lt. Polansky is listed as first pilot on the mission to Gustavsburg. Waist gunner Russ Kerr noted in his combat diary that the aircraft was damaged, but with no indication of particular severity. Bits & Pieces shows her written off and salvaged in January, 1945.