The nose art features Betty Grable, the number one pinup girl of the World War II era.

One of its important missions was "Operation Greenhouse", the fourth postwar atmospheric nuclear weapon test series conducted by the United States during the spring of 1951.

As a mother ship, the RB-17P directed unmanned, radio controlled B-17 drone aircraft to measure blast and thermal effects and to collect radioactive cloud samples.

A contest was initiated by the local media to name the aircraft, which resulted in more than 800 entries, and the ultimate selection of the name "Sentimental Journey" with nose art featuring World War II pinup Betty Grable.

Permission was secured from widower Harry James to add Betty Grable in her most tantalizing pose to complete the newly acquired bomber.