eBay: North American P-51 Mustang (4 Viewers)

[SaparotRob]

He was testing us. I wasn't going to say anything.

 

[Snautzer01]

I take it you meant "43-12372"? (41-2372 was an F-4 Lightning.)

That is why I source these findings
Click on nr1 you can find;

 

[Snautzer01]

North American P-51B-5 43-6628 B6-K Typhoon Mc Goon 357th FG, 362nd FS) collided with P-51B 43-7052 in midair east of Leiston, Suffolk, England 20 mi off English coast over North Sea Mar 29, 1944. MACR 3449. Pilot killed

1. USAF Serial Number Search Results
2. (2) Original WWII Photos 357th Fighter Group P-51 Mustang "Typhoon Mc Goon" | eBay

 

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

North American P-51B-10-NA 42-106734 R3-W Duchess 381st FS, 363rd FG, 9th AF) in taxiing accident at RAF Tibenham, Norfolk, England May 19, 1944. Pilot survived, aircraft badly damaged, unknown if repaired.

1. USAF Serial Number Search Results
2. WWII Photo USAF Mustang Airplane w/ Nose Art 10x7cm | eBay

 

[Wurger]

 

[drgondog]

North American P-51B-10-NA 42-106734 R3-W Duchess 381st FS, 363rd FG, 9th AF) in taxiing accident at RAF Tibenham, Norfolk, England May 19, 1944. Pilot survived, aircraft badly damaged, unknown if repaired.

View attachment 817589

1. USAF Serial Number Search Results
2. WWII Photo USAF Mustang Airplane w/ Nose Art 10x7cm | eBay

that image was taken after July 10 when top surface D-Day stripes were removed so it must have survived the taxi accident in May?

 

[Snautzer01]

Excuse my ignorance but why?

that image was taken after July 10

 

[Wurger]

IMHO Drgondog is right. It can be noticed that the D-day markings are left at the bottom surfaces only. The black and white strips from the tops started being removed a month after the D-day. By the end of the Spetember 1944 most of planes in France had them overpainted or washed up. At the end of 1944 the strips were given up fully.

Here a shot of another Mustang with the removed D-day strips in the same way. She is the P-51B Mustang belonged to 328FS 352FG in 1944.

the pic source: 352nd Fighter Group

And here P-51B of the 381st FS in the UK in 1944 before the D-day ...

the source: 363rd Fighter Group

and the next kite of the squadron but already in France 1944 ... the overpainted top D-day strips can be noticed nicely. The image passed for publication 3 November 1944.

the source: File:Azeville Airfield -363d FG P-51 B3-M, serial number 42-106772.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

[drgondog]

Excuse my ignorance but why?

8th AF decreed 'take 'm off the top July 9-10 1944.

 

[Wayne Little]

 

[greatgonzo]

8th AF decreed 'take 'm off the top July 9-10 1944.

And how do we know that?
I ask, because so far I thought 31.07.1944 was a day when Coastal Command, shore-based FAA (except those based in France,) 8th. A.F. fighters, anti-Crossbow a/c., P.R.U., and gliders were given permission to remove the stripes.

 

[drgondog]

And how do we know that?
I ask, because so far I thought 31.07.1944 was a day when Coastal Command, shore-based FAA (except those based in France,) 8th. A.F. fighters, anti-Crossbow a/c., P.R.U., and gliders were given permission to remove the stripes.

My source was the microfilm histories of the 4th, 352nd and 355th FG at USAFHRC. Each highlighted the order in the sections dedicated to Engineering and Maintenance.

 

[Snautzer01]

Could it be that there was a time between orders?

 

[greatgonzo]

Thank You James.
By the way. Have You seen any source talking about removing the stripes from top of the fuselage and wings only. Anything I am familiar with points that all wing markings are to be removed and fuselage markings are to be retained.

 

[drgondog]

Thank You James.
By the way. Have You seen any source talking about removing the stripes from top of the fuselage and wings only. Anything I am familiar with points that all wing markings are to be removed and fuselage markings are to be retained.

Bottom surface stripes remained through December, at least for 355th FG. The images below are circa August to October, 1944.

 

[Airframes]

The last pic in Post # 1,889 is interesting, showing a "mast" type radio antenna, mounted further aft, rather than the "whip" antenna normally seen on P-51B/C with the "Malcolm" hood.

 

[greatgonzo]

Bottom surface stripes remained through December, at least for 355th FG. The images below are circa August to October, 1944.

Yes. What I mean is there are documents ordering removing all wing markings and retaining all fuselage stripes. I have not heard of any note talking about removing the stripes from top of fuselage and wings only. The practise is clear, sure, yet I hoped You maybe tripped over some paper somewhere.

 

[Airframes]

Far as I know, those units deployed (or landing at) air strips in France post D-Day, were required to remove or overpaint the upper surface AEAF stripes, in order to aid camouflage, on the ground. I'd need to check on the date(s), but fairly sure this was earlier than the "general" order.

 

[drgondog]

The last pic in Post # 1,889 is interesting, showing a "mast" type radio antenna, mounted further aft, rather than the "whip" antenna normally seen on P-51B/C with the "Malcolm" hood.

the whip antenna strictly for the Malcolm hood, to bend as the hood slides back.