Originally designated ‘Louie the Creep’, B-17 42-97976 was repaired and returned to Rattlesden as ‘Bit o’ Lace’. She went on to complete 82 missions in total before being returned via Bradley Field, Boston, to Kingman AAB for storage. Later she met an ungainly ending being stripped and scrapped on 9th November 1945.
B-17 42-97976 ‘Bit o’ Lace’ after the attack on Kiel, 4th April 1945 (author unknown)
‘Bit o’ Lace’ earned notoriety whilst serving from RAF Rattlesden in Suffolk. She is famous for several special reasons one of which is for completing a mission with only half a tail.
Aviation Trails 