Warbird Information Exchange

P-51B s/n 43-6876 SX+5352nd FS 353rd FG

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Don't touch my junk!!

Is that from a taxiing incident?

Maybe, I would venture a guess it was on take off or at least on the runway. The flaps are not down, just drooped a bit.
It would take a significant impact to flatten the vertical and break the back. Probably more energy than just taxi speeds.
It also seems that the shoulder strap was cut as the end looks straight, no loop or hook that I can see.
I'd say the L/H side of fus and wing have some major damage from the fluids leaking.
Rich

Some interesting things about this aircraft from a colors and markings perspective.

You rarely see an individual aircraft number, rather than letter, on an 8th AF Mustang.

Feb 1945 is awfully late for a P-51B still to be in service. I wonder if it was a hack by then. Not many Bs survived long enough to have the extended nose coloring.

Note the crudely repainted fuselage national insignia from when the invasion stripes had been deleted several months before.

August

This was a war weary 'B' assigned to the 353rd FG's "Clobber College".

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Don't touch my junk!!

Perhaps this plane rolled over on it's back? I see damage to the cockpit area as well, looks like it was smashed a little bit...perhaps they have hung a new prop on it?

-Dennis S.
Arvada, CO

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"We must bond together and fight as brothers or we will all die as fools."

It got run over from behind. The fus structure aft of the cockpit would be flat to match the vertical if it went on its back. Also the L/H horizontal and elevator are MIA. They might actually be what is smashed onto the top of the rear fus.
Rich

Notice that the prop is not damaged. It didn't flip over.

yup... here's the culprit



353rd FG OTU ships....

Martin

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Flying is easy: just learn how to throw yourself at the ground and miss

"Freaking college boys!"-Sgt Andy Micklin

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

It looks like they pushed this one into the dirt after separating the mated birds. I would hate to see the L/H side of the 1st one. Brings back Nightmares of Gerry's crash.
Rich