August 3, 1943
War Bonds Buy Spirit of Union Pacific B-17 Bomber

Thousands of Union Pacific employees voluntarily increased their payroll deductions for war bonds during two months in 1943. In doing so, they were the first railroad group in the United States to have a heavy bomber named for them. "The Spirit of the Union Pacific" was a Boeing B-17F and flew as part of the 571st Bomber Squadron. On its fifth mission on October 10, 1943, led by Captain Robert Short, it was shot down in a raid on enemy installations at Munster, Germany.