339th Fighter Group

[Jack Cook]

Major William Bryan 9.5 kills 503rd FS receives the DFC

Capt Evan Johnson 5 kills 505th FS on "The Comet"

1Lt George Rich and "Chute! You're Faded"

Lt Col Joe Thury 28 kills 505th FS and 1Lt George Rich 7 kills 505th FS

Col John Henry CO 339th FG

Lt Col Goldenberg HQ and Honey with "Honey Chile"

Joe Thury's "Pauline"

Lt Col Harvey Henderson 2 kills CO 503rd FS POW12-5-44 and "PeeWee Peckerwood"

Col Bill Clark CO 339th FG

1Lt Tony Hawkins 503rd FS downed by a ME-262 12-31-44

Capt Bob Ammon 14 kills 503rd FS

Last edited by Jack Cook on Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Obergrafeter]

Now I have to win the Mega Millions! Got my nose art.........San Antone Rose. First time I ever saw that one. Gotta have it.

[Wheels up]

Now I have to win the Mega Millions! Got my nose art.........San Antone Rose. First time I ever saw that one. Gotta have it.

Yeah...and I want the next authenticity obsessed nut to equip it with one block tread tire and one diamond tread.

[Lynn Allen]

Now I have to win the Mega Millions! Got my nose art.........San Antone Rose. First time I ever saw that one. Gotta have it.

Yeah...and I want the next authenticity obsessed nut to equip it with one block tread tire and one diamond tread.

And the right paint,stripes yade yade ya....... See Ober I flew P-51's, look at Tony Hawkins....

Lynn

[RyanShort1]

Now I have to win the Mega Millions! Got my nose art.........San Antone Rose. First time I ever saw that one. Gotta have it.

You can have that one. For San Antonio I'd pick this one from the 45th FS, Iwo Jima...


from www.7thfighter.com.

Ryan

[Forgotten Field]

A long while ago, I spoke with a relative of the pilot who flew "Chute, you're faded." I can't remember his name but he was the one who wound up with a flight jacket that was painted with the nose art. The jacket was stolen, and he was calling everybody he could contact that might have found it. I called a few people I knew who might have run across it, but no luck. I always wondered if he got the jacket back.

[Obergrafeter]

Was there a B-17 San Antonio Rose? Heck if I win the Mega I might as well go all out. Maybe Bob Wills sponsored one.

[Starduster77]

Good photo's.
The William Bryan photo is interesting in that there was something funny said.
For having one of the most air victories in the 339th FG William Bryan P-51's photo's are rare ,well I have not seen any.
Thanks posting Jack
Rick

Last edited by Starduster77 on Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

You may not know but Bryan flew 51s in Korea with the 12th FIS "Foxy Few" and was awarded the DSC.

[Swiss Mustangs]

For having one of the most air victories in the 339th FG William Bryan P-51's photo's are rare ,well I have not seen any.

no wonder

most of his known assigned a/c were constantly lost with other pilots.... Bryan's a/c were coded D7-J

his first a/c was P-51B 42-106798, recoded to D7-U when he got a D-Model (see below)

next in line was P-51D-10-NA 44-13601, lost on 6th August 1944 with Lt. Victor W. Meyer (MIA over North Sea)

replacement was P-51D-15-NA 44-15074 "Big Noise" - crashlanded 15th March 1945 by Lt. Dennis B. Rawls, Jr. at Sta. 378 Fowlmere

next was P-51D-20-NA 44-72485 - lost 17th April 1945 with Capt. Raymond F. Reuter over Czechoslovakia (together with 1/Lt. William R. Preddy)

and yes - all these a/c seemd to be a bit 'camera-shy'.

attached a photo of 44-72485 in flight



Martin

[Starduster77]

Thanks Martin and Jack.

Rick

[Django]

The Iwo shot is stealing your thunder Jack.

[Jack Cook]

The Iwo shot is stealing your thunder Jack.

no web site photo will EVER steal my thunder
Jack who's now with-holding shot of ace CB Ray and P-38 San Antonio Rose

[Obergrafeter]

All right the full set. B-17, P-51, and P-38 all San Antonio Roses! That would be a sight.

[Swiss Mustangs]

there also was an early P-51B used as OTU ship with the 359th FG.... nicknamed "Rose of San Antonio"



Martin