Warbird Information Exchange

Anybody know who took this iconic Mustang photograph? A nice quality original looking print of it was among some Mustang photos I found in a small used book store in Arizona some years ago. The bookstore owner was vague about the provenance of the photos -- he'd picked them up in an estate sale some time before. He thought the deceased had something to do with North American Aviation or with Mustangs.

On the back of the photo is some information about the crash, such as the fact that the guns were painted on and that the crash site is now on the grounds of a hotel...

The name stamped on the back of the photo is Donald J Spry -- presumably the owner of the print but not the photographer.

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Nice photo!

I take it this is the Mustang prototype NX19998?

Typing in Donlad J. Spry into the old internet brings up this tidbit of info, which is part of a preview for the book "P-51 Mustang
By Gardner N. Hatch, Winter Frank H.":

http://books.google.ca/books?id=EkUc5FE ... ng&f=false

"Donlad J. Spry was born in Wisconsin, received flight training in the Wisconsin National Guard. Served in Korea with the 18th fighter bomber wing 1952. Served in Vietnam. Retired in 1970. Awarded distinguished flying cross, purple heart, Air Medal, Korea and Vietnam Campaign ribbons. Resides in Arizona"

So the Arizona area ties in with where you got the photos, and if he's mentioned in a book about Mustangs there must be a further connection with the type. Perhaps he flew them in Korea, and had some photos in a scrapbook?

greg v.

I found that sketchy reference too -- was hoping somebody here might know something about Mr. Spry, as well as the identity of the photographer...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Roger Freeman's "Mustang at War" has that photo and it is credited to North American Rockwell. Doesn't mention and individual

Yes, that's the NA73X on it's back. There's at least one other published photo of the accidents aftermath taken from a different angle floating around. All the one's I've seen are attributed to NAA...

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"They can teach MONKEYS to fly better than that"

http://www.heritageflight.org
http://www.bravo369.org

Thanks -- that's kind of what I figured I'd find. Here's another from Mr. Spry's collection. I got these pre-internet, and this one had me puzzled at the time. I wondered how we had a bombed up A-36 with a B-47 and what looks like a C-133 in the background?

Once I entered the internet age, I figured out that this is the one in (I think) The Air Force Museum -- duh....

This must have been taken right after restoration. I've since seen color shots from about the same angle.

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Iam looking for any and all information on Lt. Don Spry. ( I think Donald J. Spry) age could be 77
I recently purchased an ejection seat from a T-33 in almost mint condition. Also included was the flight harness with the parachute pack(Date of assembly on parachute log book which is also included, 1951) and parachute seat cushion (mfg.1943).
On the inside of the harness is LT. Don Spry written twice.
I would like more info on this DFC recipiency.

Doing some internet search only pulls up 18th Fighter Bomber Wing. Any idea on how to get more info?
also served in Vietnam.
Received the Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Metal
Korea/Vietnam campaign ribbon

Retired in AZ

I would like to get the back ground history on this seat and/or harness with pack.
I myself am a USAF vet and would be honored to find out more info. Thank-you for your help!
you can email me at
visionmirror@gmail.com

Outstanding find Neal, thanks for sharing it...

Different book, but with familiar color pic of Chappie James credited to Don Spry. Check page 150.

http://books.google.com/books?id=MI5H1p ... ry&f=false

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Check out the gaping radiator hole on the bottom of the aircraft! Sure changed a bit by production time.

Would this be the aircraft Paul Balfour (sp?) ran out of fuel (or at least ran the selected tank dry) on his first flight in the Mustang?

The radiator scoop was redesigned and refined when the MERLIN was installed when it was found the original configuration was a real drag producer and modifying the scoops configuration actually boosted cooling efficiency. No one's commented on the 'over and under' configuration of the proposed wing guns-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Yeah, but the EAA XP-51 scoop doesn't look anything like that.

I think there's an intake structure missing in the image, as all the early P-51 intakes I've seen extend a lot further forward under the wing than this seems to be.

Good spot, like the guns.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

and the two gallon Carbon-Tetrachloride pump extinguisher juxtaposed under the Left Main strut too. I'd imagine the scoop parts missing went away as the prop or something on the ground went under the aircraft, unless they flew it without an intake lip just to get it in the air for basic stability characteristics.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-