 Rolled out of the Lockheed-Vega production facility in Burbank, California in December, 1944, "The Pink Lady" was then only known as a B-17G-85-VE Fortress, serial number 44-8846.On March 1, 1945, 44-8846 was flown to RAF Polebrook, England, and assigned to the 511th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group.Since she entered active service so close to the end of the war, 44-8846 only flew six missions over Germany, the last one on April 20, 1945, when the 351st ended combat operations.