GML Mustang of the Day: 2 from the Checkertail Clan

[CH2Tdriver]

NL1451D
P-51D-30NA
Owned by Nathan Davis





Luscious Lisa
P-51D-30NT
Owned by Todd Stuart



Cheers,
Peter

[Elroy13]

Nice pics! I still think Lucious Lisa has one of the better paint schemes out there.

[Jack Cook]

Nice pics! I still think Lucious Lisa has one of the better paint schemes out there.

Just a shame they had to offend the actual pilot of #00 when
they painted it

[Jerry O'Neill]

Thanks for posting the Checkertail pics!

I think all Mustangs should be painted with the "Clan's" tail colors!
(but then again, I'm prejudiced!
Jerry

[sdennison]

Nice pics! I still think Lucious Lisa has one of the better paint schemes out there.

Just a shame they had to offend the actual pilot of #00 when
they painted it

How's that, Jack?

[Jack Cook]

When they were looking for a 325th FG paint scheme Jeff Ethell contacted me for suggestions. I gave Jeff the info on #00 "Double Nuthin'" which was decided to be the paint scheme. I hooked Jeff up with Gen. Grant Smith of the 318th FS who was the pilot of #00 which had the coolest 325th FG markings! Because I vouched them Gen Smith gave his OK to do the scheme has long has it was done correctly and accurately. He gave them more photos and info. The end result was not the real #00 but a bastardized version with a different name and and Col Beverly's name on the side. Col. Beverly BTW flew #77 s/n 44-15093 "Beligerent Betts". Gen Smith was hurt by this and terribly offended and so was I has I had vouched for them to him.

P-51D #00 s/n 44-63165 1945 the only a/c in the 325th Fg to carry Japanese & German kill markings!

Major Grant Smith OPS 318th FS 325th FG April 1945

Grant Smith & Harry Parker (14 kills) about a week before Harry was shot down and killed.

[CH2Tdriver]

Thanks for that info Jack. It's amazing what you learn on WIX. IIRC there was another Mustang in 325th markings that was NMF (as opposed to silver paint like this one) coded 00 and called Nervous Energy. I saw Jeff Ethel fly it at WOE in 96 and it showed up at RDG WW2 weekend 2001.

Anyone else remember this one?

Pete

[Jack Cook]

IIRC there was another Mustang in 325th markings that was NMF (as opposed to silver paint like this one) coded 00 and called Nervous Energy. I saw Jeff Ethel fly it at WOE in 96 and it showed up at RDG WW2 weekend 2001.

This is that a/c. The original owner was Wallace Sanders. The new owner simply changed the name.

[Robbie Stuart]

Jack thats what I like about you, if is BS you call em on it! Too bad that paint scheme was modified.
Robbie

[Jerry O'Neill]

I still like it!
Jerry

[Hal B]

The above posts just reinforce my opinion that if you're going to paint a warbird as some specific, historical aircraft you'd better do it correctly. Or as correctly as possible given the available knowledge. This idea of "customizing" a paint scheme gets my BP up. Sometimes it's done because a donor wants it that way; I've been involved in one of those situations and that a/c is still on public display at a well known museum in spurious markings. Beautiful plane, but it just ain't right.

And sometimes it's done just because the owner thinks it's more attractive or attention getting, or thinks his initials make great fuselage code letters. Yuck I've been involved in a couple of those, also.

Anyway you look at it, it shows a certain disrespect for history and has the potential for confusing things down the road.

However, I'll also concede the idea that ownership conveys a certain privilige to do as you please with your property. Including marking it any old way you want.

Guess it all boils down to "If you're goind to do it; do it RIGHT!"

Last edited by Hal B on Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

John Anderson is considering doing the correct #00 paint scheme for his restored P-51D the x-McCann a/c. It actually serviced in the 318th FS
325th FG has #60 in 1945 and some how made it home
Gen Smith flew P-40Fs and P-38Hs in the 13th AF and had 2 Zero kills.
He was shot down over Choisel in a dogfight with 5 Zeros. He evaded capture and with the help of a coastwatcher was rescued by a PT-Boat.
He commanded the 44th TFS in Viet Nam flying F-105s and flew firebombers after he retired from the AF.
He later commanded the 20th TFW in the UK and flew the first F-111E to England
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7175
http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/lofiversion/index.php?t99396.html
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=70662&sid=000a5a7dc0634b79b3123c1c7c1165d4

[mlenoch]

What's the device in front of the left bomb rack on the black/white photo of #00? I can't quite make it out.
Thx,
VL

[Jack Cook]

What's the device in front of the left bomb rack on the black/white photo of #00? I can't quite make it out

Drop tank plumbing. I've got other shots with DTs and there's hoses
running from the wing to the tank.

[Pilotgrl24]

Please keep in mind the reason behind Wallaces choice in paint schemes, he just wanted to recognize the 325th for the support they gave him, while he was flying 17s. Whether it is completely correct or not, he had good intentions.