Cool P-51D Mustang Photo

[Jack Cook]

No question here just thought I'd share a favorite photo. This is Capt Jim Duffy of the 354th FS 355th FG on the wing of his P-51D s/n 44-72186 WR*Y "Dragon Wagon". Duffy was an ace with 5.2 kills and is seen here with the squadron's Bulldog mascot Max.

[Swiss Mustangs]

Jack

thanks for sharing - I do believe, however, that this is 44-63764, the replacement ship for 44-72186 which was lost on 22nd March 1945.

The red lower engine cowling panel is identical with the one shown in the photo below (=44-63764).



What do you think ?


Martin

[Tom Crawford]

Great photo Jack. Those were very special times for a lot of very special young men.
Tom

[italian harvard]

Martin, I've always wondered what was the purpose of changing the cowl grills with patches, the air sucked from there was meant to cool what?

Alex

[bdk]

The cowl grills were for alternate (filtered) air to the carburetor. There was a valve in the intake duct below the engine.

[Scott Rose]

Just a reminder, I do have a Aces section in the USAAF Resource Center, pictures and information always welcome.

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/aces.html

[Jack Cook]

Scott,
It goes without saying that anything I post you're welcome to use has you see fit.

[italian harvard]

The cowl grills were for alternate (filtered) air to the carburetor. There was a valve in the intake duct below the engine.

I kinda imagined that, but I wondered why in several Mustangs it was closed.

Alex

[Swiss Mustangs]

That was for cold weather operations -

Here's the relevant page from the P-51D Flight Handbook for explanation

(sorry for quality - the scanner here at work is only throught for text docs.....)



Martin

[Scott Rose]

I've created an entry for Capt. Duffy in the Aviation Legends section of the USAAF Resource Center

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/duffy.html

Any further info would be welcome.

[drgondog]

Scott - as you might suspect I have a ton of photos and data on all 355th FG Aces. What do you need?

My photo album of the 355th and the 2SF and Scout Force Experimental is up to 1800 photos plus a 550 entry database of ships flown, what happened to them, etc.

I can't send you all until I republish Angels, Bulldogs and Dragons - but I did put 96 up on Armyairforces.com in the Albums section that you are welcome to use here if your wish... but if if you have something specific let me know. I sent Martin (via Peter Randall) about 1200 last year. I will help you populate your site also

Regards,

Bill Marshall