Checkertail Clan pics?

[Django]

Anyone have any checkertail clan pics? They are one of my favorite units. I thought I had some pics on my computer to share, but I can't find them. I'll have to look at home tonight.

[Dan K]

Are you looking for pics of pilots or planes?

Here's a link to a photo of my personal favorite checkertail and friend gone west Paul "Rowdy" Dowd and his razorback P-47 "Spirit of Milwaukee County." His one confirmed victory came in this Jug as he chased a 109 almost vertically into the ground.

http://www.mitchellgallery.org/exhibits ... borski.asp

[Jack Cook]

I have about 100 unpublished shots.
Maybe time for another auction hey...Scott

[Django]

Just stumbled across this. Maybe it's old news, but it was new to me.

http://www.geocities.com/der_tinker/index.html

[Elroy13]

Well...these obviously arent war time photos...but Checkertail none the less. I took these a few years ago.




Thats me peeking out the back!

[Jerry O'Neill]

I'll be looking forward to anything on the "Checkertails"!

My uncle was KIA on Sept. 15, 1944 while flying with them on a mission over Greece. He was hit by ground fire while straffing an aerodrome, crashing on the field.
I've been to one of their reunions and was truely moved how wonderfully I was treated by my uncle's "long-lost" Clan members. It was as though I was one of them. It was a very moving experience for me.
Long live the men of the 325th FG!
Jerry

[Jack Cook]

Here's some 325th FG shots showing the real #00 s/n 44-63165 flown by Major Grant smith OPS officer 318th FS. He was the only 325th FG pilot to down both German & Japanese a/c.

P-51D #00 "Double Nuthin'"

Major Grant Smith (B/G USAFret)

Having a beer after a ME-109 kill

[Jack Cook]

My uncle was KIA on Sept. 15, 1944 while flying with them

I'm guessing 2Lt John Lynch of the 317th FS downed in P-51B #32 s/n 43-24889

[Jerry O'Neill]

BINGO!
You must have the "Checkertail Clan" book, Jack!
I have about 100 or so of his letters from overseas, but not many photos. I spoke with one of his tent mates, Wes Terry, a few years ago, but he couldn't recall too much about him as my Uncle Fred was a replacement pilot, arriving in August of 1944. Sad to say, like so many other young men, he didn't last long.
Jerry

[Jerry O'Neill]

Lt. John Frederick Lynch (Uncle Fred) was flying a C model P-51 that fateful day. It wasn't his aircraft, and there were no known markings on it. In his letters home he spoke more often about his first time driving a car (jeep) in Italy and how much fun it was! I guess that flying the Mustang in combat wasn't so exciting!

By the way, as a side note, I went flying with Jeff Ethell back in 1995 in the back seat of nervous energy. He gave me a Checkertail scarf and I had my uncles wings with me. We flew over his boyhood home in West Haven, CT and over my house in Cheshire. Once again, it was avery moving experience and one that I cherish.

I always hoped I'd get a ride in a P-51 some day, I just never thought it would be in one with my Uncle's squadron markings, over his own home!
Amazing and wonderful.
It's another reason why these birds we help to preserve are so important.
Blue skies,
Jerry

[Jack Cook]

You must have the "Checkertail Clan" book, Jack!

Nope, just a mind like a steel trap!
When the day comes that it finally snaps, It'll be ugly!

[Lynn Allen]

Trae, did you get any time on the stick There nothing like flying a mustang

Lynn

[Elroy13]

Trae, did you get any time on the stick There nothing like flying a mustang

Lynn

Yes I was able to get some time!! It was fantastic!!