Pilot Al Sanders and his nose gunner, A.B. Smith, were especially proud of their four-engine B-24 bomber. Both men were LSU alumni and it was their choice of “nose art” that was brilliantly painted on their plane as they began the mission that fateful day: "Mike-the Spirit of LSU."
The intelligence briefing before take-off that day said that the bombers on the raid over Lutzendorf should experience light anti-aircraft fire from the ground. This, however, would not be the case. Intelligence was not aware that the Germans had set up at least seven hundred anti-aircraft guns to defend Lutzendorf against air raids.
The crew had already flown four successful missions in the Spirit of LSU, but this one would be different.