"Outhouse Mouse"
Digital re-creation of the Nose art “Outhouse Mouse” originally painted on the nose of
B-17G -25-BO SN: 42-31636 - 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group, Bassingbourn, England 1944. One of the many aircraft of the 91st that was painted by the talented Tony Starcer; a gentleman I would loved to have met!
Outhouse Mouse’s greatest claim to fame was that of being the first heavy bomber to be attacked by a German Jet. The incident occurred during the 16th August mission to Siebel aircraft factory at Halle. Lt. Walker Mullen’s crew had borrowed the ship for the mission because their usual plane, “Ramblin Rebel” was in for repair. Initially knocked from the formation in a determined attack by an FW190 and an Me109, which had also wounded two crew members. “Outhouse Mouse” then came under attack from the rear. The incoming fire from the Me163 Komet ‘Rocket Plane’ , was successfully avoided by the combined action of both pilots who rocked the plane both from side to side and up and down. A second Me163 slid up beside “Outhouse Mouse” for a full two minutes – but carefully kept just out of range. It’s audacity was soon short-lived when two Mustangs pounced upon the strange-looking jet and soon shot it down from the skies.
“Outhouse Mouse” went on to complete a stunning 139 missions, including twelve trips to Berlin before finally returning to the USA on the 25th May 1945. Eventually she was scrapped at Kingman, Arizona, but not until 1963.
Extract taken from; Plane Names & Fancy Noses © Ray Bowden 1993
http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/usnpnf.htm
