Warbird Information Exchange

Writing up some of the profile notes for Lowell K. Brueland (355FS, 354FG 9AF 12.5 kills +2 in Korea), and have got confused.

What was the serial number of the P-51D GQ*U "Grim Reaper" that he flew in WWII and is it the same or a different airplane which has been restored to flying condition out on the West Coast?

I have 44-63701 (record) and 44-63702 (flying now). Is this someone's typo somewhere or what? E.g. on MustangsMustangs.com the pix are titled 44-63701 and the serial number on the fin clearly reads "463702"

Anyone got a book they can refer to?

What other ships? I see a set of decals for a model of a P-47D-28-RE, 44-20514 GQ-U "Wee Speck" also flown by the man himself - any more '47s or '51s listed? Distinct underachievement in the personal reference section.

Rob / Kansan

Rob

44-13536 flew as GQ-U "Grim Reaper" 440731 to 440909
44-63702 flew as GQ-U "Wee Speck" from early 1945 through VE-Day and beyond

Martin

Thanks Martin, glad you're here.

What do you make of this?

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... 3701.shtml

I read somewhere that 44-63702 was "Grim Reaper" and "Wee Speck" at different times. And they restored 44-63702 as "Grim Reaper" If they were all trying to confuse me they succeeded!! Have no 9AF source material at all.

Rob

Rob

I understand your confusion

44-63701 was one of the early P-51D-20-NA's delivered to the Swedish AF in late April 1945 - fresh from depot, i.e. this ship never had been assigned to any frontline unit. - In Sweden this ship flew as Fv26015 - it was sold in 1952 to the Dominican Republic where it served as FAD-1904 before being sold to the US in 1984. (same info as on Curtis' site).

44-63702 was assigned to the 354th FG 355th FS and flew as GQ-U "Wee Speck" during the closing stages of WW 2 in Europe. This a/c served beyond VE-Day and eventually was SOC/SALV on 14th June 1946 in Germany.

All my photos of '702 show her with the name "Wee Speck", but I will check my files again, since I also remember reading that the a/c once carried the nickname "Grim Reaper" - most probably this only is a confusion with Brueland's earlier a/c (before the brief conversion to P-47D's) - 44-13536.

Your confusion is that the survivor's serial is almost identical to the historical ship.

Martin

Thanks Martin. That means we ae talking about two different machines (with consecutive AAF serials ) and I am "not" going crazy.

[Edit - later]
I should have read this more closely

Rob

Martin - which ship is this? 44-63702 or 44-13536? from what you've said I suspect this is '536 but you know more than me.

I can't read the stencil behind his head.



Rob / Kansan

Here's one I have of Brueland.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Cool!

Muchas Gracias!

Rob / Kansan

Rob

here are some more of "Wee Speck" & Brueland:







your picture of "Grim Reaper needs some more thoughts before I come up with an answer

Martin

Hey
Martin,
Do you have a good one of Gil Talbot's "Peggy" GQ*P?
He was the 355th FS CO.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack

don't I wish

- this ship became J-2064 in Swiss AF service and is one of the few that have eluded me so far.....

So if anyone has a photo of 44-63666 GQ-P "Peggy" (port side) / "Deacon" (starboard side) - I'd be highly interested in it !

Martin

I have 2 heh-heh-heh!

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Don't touch my junk!!