“Tupelo Lass”

Kayo Dessert and Jake Epting flew Tupelo Lass on the low-level Ploesti mission of August 1, 1943, bombing the target and coming home undamaged. Top-turret gunner Ben Kuroki, flying alongside squadron commander Dessert, held his fire under orders not to shoot up the city as the aircraft dropped below treetop height through the target area. Months later, on November 5, 1943, with Homer Moran piloting, Tupelo Lass carried Kuroki on the Munster mission that completed his 30th sortie; flak that day shattered the plastic shield over his gun turret.