78th and 4th FG pics

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:18 pm

I was looking for something in my 'image vault' (my external hard drive), and thought I'd upload a few raw scans for the WIXers while I wuz there to give Jack and Martin a breather for a sec.

Enjoy!
Wade

Harry Thompson; 82FS, 78FG:

Alfred F. Eaton; 84FS, 78FG:

"Bee" pre-flight. Duane Beeson (POW); 334FS, 4FG:

Who else had hair like that?! The Kidd, of course! Ralph Hofer (KIA) unstrapping; 334FS, 4FG:

The Playboy. Vic France (KIA); 334FS, 4FG:

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11330

What is the significance of the letter "M"?

Chicoartist wrote:

ZeamerB17 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:34 am

Thanks!
Ya got any of J.D. Landers and BBD?

Dave

Swiss Mustangs · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:53 am

bdk wrote:

What is the significance of the letter "M"?

P-47D 42-28798 MX-M assigned to Capt. Ivan H. Keatley; a/c nicknamed "Cutie / Ivan The Terrible"

"M" is the individual a/c letter repeated on the cowlings....

Martin

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:10 am

I'm not an aircrew meeting kind of chap, as a rule, but I did shake a hand that held the joystick of a Thunderbolt, 60 years to the day later. That day was D Day; I was at Duxford on June 6th, 2004. Lt Col Hayden Richards was there in 1944 and 2004.

And back then:

(Thanks to Tracey Woods, IWM DX PR for the historic shots.)

That Thunderbolt wasn't there, then, but the 'Grace' Spitfire was over those beaches on that day. Unlike most warbirds with D Day stripes, ML407, OU-V earned hers. Getting to stand next to it then, 60 years on was special. Both Lt Col Richards and ML407 have changed a bit, but they are both (in very!) different ways living history and what it's all about.

Just an extra.

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:26 am

bdk wrote:

What is the significance of the letter "M"?

This seemed to be standard practice with some 8th AF groups if the plane's cowling allowed it to be seen ... it "ID'd" the plane as seen from the front for ground crew or fellow taxiing pilots.

Wade

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:01 am

Here's a few more DX and DB pics:

Razorback P-47 at DX:

83FS Enlisted troop in Maj. Jesse Davis' kite:

Kenneth C. Allstaedt. Note the camo was removed except around the serial:

Unidentified (so far) 334FS pilot:

Mustang hooked up to the tug in a 336FS bay:

'Deac' Hively (334FS) strapped in and ready to go on the first Russia Shuttle mission:

The granddaddy of them all - also first man to score using the P-47:

If you enjoyed these, you'll love the "Raphael Collection" I have posted on my site. See it starting here (3 pages + his diary): http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id45.html

Wade

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78th and 4th FG pics

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