B24H 42-52424 "Jack The Ripper II" 791st B.S.

Additional Remarks: Original aircraft with the Group which crash-landed and burned at the emergency airfield of Manston, returning battle-damaged on 3rd August 44. Four casualties. See Casualties page.

Pictured in front of the artwork is 791st original pilot John "Jack" Stevens whom the aircraft was thought to be named after. Jack's daughter Cindy takes up the artwork story:

"The kicking white mule is the mascot of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where my dad went to school. His friend Eugene Struckhoff was the original navigator on Jack the Ripper and also went to Colby College. Struckhoff didn't transfer to the 15th in Italy, and stayed with the 467th. I'm not sure if "the Ripper" has any additional meaning or not, and the "II" is because there was evidently another plane named "Jack the Ripper" but there is more to the story. 
 
Just before my dad and crew received orders to transfer to the 15th, my dad was called into see Col. Shower, which, as you may imagine, was probably not for a pleasant little chat. So . . . Dad walks in, salutes, etc., and the Colonel tells him that the nose art/name of his plane, Jack the Ripper II is what we would now call politically incorrect, that the Germans were likely to get a photo of it and use it in propaganda against the Allies with words/ideas to the effect of, "see how the bloodthirsty Americans glorify a brutal murderer by naming a plane after him, etc. .  Well, Dad attempted a defense, saying that the name came from the guys on the crew, trying to make a joke at his expense, but as you might imagine, the Colonel would have none of it, and told my dad to have the name 
painted over. Dad and crew were transferred before they had a chance to do the required painting over." Personal Note