WW2 Pilot Reunited With His Wartime P-51D

[Shay]

Sorry if you've all seen this before:

These are videos from the Flying Heritage Collection's website http://www.flyingheritage.com

Lt. Harrison "Bud" Tordoff is reunited with his wartime mount P-51D 44-72364 "UPUPA EPOPS" Assigned to 353rd FG/352nd FS

It's real nice to see a Veteran feel some much joy in seeing his old plane.

http://colostream1.vulcan.com/flyingheritage/P51_Reunion_4_14_04.wmv

http://colostream1.vulcan.com/flyingheritage/Restoration_4_14_04.wmv

http://colostream1.vulcan.com/flyingheritage/WWII_Experience_4_14_04.wmv

http://colostream1.vulcan.com/flyingheritage/End_of_War_4_14_04.wmv

The Veterans truely are the greatest treasures remaining from the Wars. It will be a sad day when they're all gone. So if you meet one and they're willing, ask them to tell you their stories.



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Chicoartist]

Thanks for posting that! I've been a "fan" of this particular warbird/actual combat veteran ever since I saw it profiled on the FHC website. I have a "Mustang painting" listed in the painting queue on my site, and maybe this plane would make a nice one to feature. I'm aiming to complete the work before the 2008 American Society of Aviation Artists juried exhibition tentatively scheduled at the Mighty Eighth museum in Savannah.

I initially had a ground scene in mind showing the main subject in a very similar pose to the photograph above, but mine will be from a slightly higher elevation (eye level), and the plane will be 'built' from scratch by Descriptive Geometry, a 3-point perspective manual technical drawing system. Don't know yet about the final composition, but I do need something "Mustang" to show in Savannah.

This 353rd FG veteran previously flew with the Dominican Republic (think that's who), and is shown flying in it's gaudy Dominican war paint in Michael O'Leary's softcover Mustang book of a while back.

BTW, a long time ago I emailed the FHC through their site requesting a few "walk around" photographs of this plane to ensure accuracy with a future painting, but got no reply ... anybody have good shots of her markings on both sides, nose to tail?

Wade

[Jack Cook]

I have a "Mustang painting" listed in the painting queue on my site, and maybe this plane would make a nice one to feature. I'm aiming to complete the work before the 2008 American Society of Aviation Artists juried exhibition tentatively scheduled at the Mighty Eighth museum in Savannah.

Sounds like time for the Beerbower painting Wade!!

[Chicoartist]

Sounds like time for the Beerbower painting Wade!!

Jack, speaking of that, our 354th FG DVD is scheduled for release late this summer. It'll be our best yet, with a companion CD/PDF of the group's entire WWII operational diary also available.

As to the painting subject ...

Wade

[Jack Cook]

Steve Blake's 354th history should be out by late spring also

[Lynn Allen]

Sounds like time for the Beerbower painting Wade!!

Jack, speaking of that, our 354th FG DVD is scheduled for release late this summer. It'll be our best yet, with a companion CD/PDF of the group's entire WWII operational diary also available.

As to the painting subject ...

Wade

Wade, if you would, keep me in the loop on this DVD as I would like to buy one when they come out.

Thanks,

Lynn

[Chicoartist]

Wade, if you would, keep me in the loop on this DVD as I would like to buy one when they come out.

No problem. I'll post a notice here on the WIX, but if you want to make sure you don't miss it, please email me at chicoartist >at< yahoo.com (substitute the "@" symbol instead of ">at<") to get on my newsletter list. I occasionally throw out random coupons to my newsletter types (hmm, bout time for that again ... ).

Wade

[Elroy13]

Thanks for posting this Shay!!!

[Ken]

Forgive me if I'veoverlooked it - but are there any photos (posted or otheriwse available to view) of the original Upupa Epops?

[five-one]

The vid links aren't working.......

[bobbrunn]

Wade looking forward to seeing your work " Live " in Savannah

[Jack Cook]

Bud Tordoff and his crew

[262crew]

BTW, a long time ago I emailed the FHC through their site requesting a few "walk around" photographs of this plane to ensure accuracy with a future painting, but got no reply ... anybody have good shots of her markings on both sides, nose to tail?

Wade[/quote]

Good luck with that! You will not get a reply. Last year at the opening of FHC's flying season Bud was flown in to see his plane for one last time. As you may know he passed this last summer. I have some pictures from that day, unfortunately I didn't get any of Bud.

[Jack Cook]

Good luck with that! You will not get a reply.

I emailed the director and offered any photo from my collection to help
them out-no strings. They couldn't be bothered even with a reply that said drop dead.

[Ken]

1- The restored airplane has the canopy pass-thru for a long wire antenna but no wire. Is this accurate?

2- Looking at the original Tordoff photo (thanks, Jack!) I wonder how much of the airplane visible is still there today ... with the same checkerboard or name.

3- Will we ever see UE sitting next to HJGB?

4- Forgive me - I simply can not get enough of these two Mustangs.