“Missouri Sue”

Missouri Sue was flown for most of her combat career by Captain Kenneth L. Gilbert of Newport, Rhode Island, who left Rhode Island State University to enlist, trained as a sergeant-pilot, and received a direct commission in May 1943. Gilbert entered combat with the 93rd on April 12, 1944, completed his first tour by July 12, and then refused rotation home, flying on without leave or a single 24-hour pass as his mission count climbed past fifty and eventually to seventy-one. He declined to wear his Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals, calling himself superstitious, and no man who flew with him was ever awarded a Purple Heart. His original engineer and radio operator, Sergeants Joseph Evanovich and Dale Jennings, logged 47 and 39 missions with him respectively.

After Gilbert's rest, Missouri Sue continued flying with other crews. She survived the war and was returned to the United States on May 25, 1945.