If you could own a P-51...

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:59 pm

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/165/20/0/1

This is an interesting one. Between 1950 and 1960, Somalia was under Italian administration. The Italians run the 'Corpo di Sicurezza della Somalia', which also operated a number of F-51D Mustangs. Eight of these were handed over to Somalia, together with six C-47/Dakotas and six Beech C-45s, when the country was released into independence, and they formed the core of the future Somali Air Corps, remaining in service until 1968. The exact look of Somali F-51D Mustangs is still somewhat of mystery, with almost no references being available. The artwork here was prepared with help of information from Mr. Gianfranco Lanini and a decal sheet released in Portugal, years ago. In addition to national markings - worn in six places - and the large black code '2', applied on rear fuselage, the aircraft should have had a part of its original serial applied somewhere on the fin.

But i would have to go with one of these if i had a razorback: (11th Picture down)
And if i had a bubble top: (13th Picture Down)

http://www.web-birds.com/14th/23/23.htm

And maybe if i tired of these schemes, id probably start looking a little deeper and do my own markings based off of a squadron. But heck, if i ended up having an actual P-51, id want to paint it in all sorts of schemes, so id be looking into wax (temp) paintjobs.

mlenoch · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:12 pm

When I worked at Boeing in the late 70s and early 80s, a Boeing co-worker was sent to that area in Africa to support a sales mission to sell jets. While transiting Somalia, he thought he saw P-51s at the airport. He did not get pix.
Now this post 'repeats' the claim that Mustangs were in Somalia. Nice to read this. I wonder if any pix exist or someone else can confirm their location?
Thx,
VL
PS: He recalls that he was always very uneasy and wary in that part of the continent. Folks there looked very poor and destitute. Others looked very dangerous.

Mudge · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:15 pm

Gary...I'll bet it's in vlado's hangar.

Mudge the prescient :oops:

spookythecat · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:33 pm

GARY HILTON wrote:

I don't know...I remember seeing a P-51 at Oshkosh 81....it belonged to a Canadian.....I can't remember his name...Gary??? Anyway, it was in a civilian paint scheme....glossy black with silver cheat lines....I thought that was really a tough look...

Is this the one?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:40 pm

CF-FUZ s/n 44-63869 is formerly #60 of the 318th FS 325th FG flown by Lt AS Hall Italy 1945.
John was planning on a repaint back to 318th FS markings

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:44 pm

Gary and Susan McCann, if anybody talks ot them say hi for me. And that's What Up Doc, of Ross Grady, with the Dominican military paint. The good ole days. Vlado, we must be getting old.

mlenoch · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:44 pm

Anyone have any interior pix of CF-FUZ?? That will blow you away.
Please hum: 'Ain't nuthin' but a hound dog' when looking at the original interior pix.
VL

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:11 am

Here's another picture of CF-FUZ from Harlingen '84 that I will post on the "Airsho '84" thread as well:

Of the civilian paint schemes I've seen, that was always among my favorites. It will be great if it reappears in it's warpaint, though!

Scott

famvburg · **Joined:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:41 am **Posts:** 540

That's an interesting pic. What's the scoop?

Peter-Four-Oh wrote:

I'd paint it in such a way as to make it look more like a real fighter... :wink:

Fade to Black...

famvburg · **Joined:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:41 am **Posts:** 540

My fav has always been the 'incorrect color' Lou IV. However, I think I'd go with the light gray USAF scheme seen on some of the Cavaliers. Or maybe the SEA scheme used on the Turbo Mustang III, green tinted canopy & all. Or the Army P-51Ds used as chase planes. Or maybe one of the other camo schemes used by foreign operators in the '60s (or '70s?). Or since my fav color is dark blue, maybe a USN scheme of the never produced Navy "Seahorse"!

Something different anyway.

warbirdguy wrote:

...what markings would it carry? Why?

I posted this a year or two ago and thought I'd give it another go around!

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:09 pm

I'd paint it in 45th FS markings - either as Saki Colt, Stinger VII, or San Antonio Rose.

Ryan

Connery · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:25 pm

Well, if I had one, it would have to be the more refined A model and would be painted like this:

Except mine would be RU-M, which was the mount of Flight Officer Hollis Hills when he scored the first "Mustang" kill.

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:21 pm

famvburg wrote:

That's an interesting pic. What's the scoop?

Peter-Four-Oh wrote:

I'd paint it in such a way as to make it look more like a real fighter... :wink:

Fade to Black...

I've only read very little about this, but it was an attempt to make the aircraft resemble a P-40, so as to make it look more like an allied aircraft than a Bf-109, earlier in the war.

I love the looks of the B/C the most, and if one could be restored I think it would look great in either Polish/RAF Squadron markings, or in 4th FG markings as Lt. Hofer's "Salem Representative."

For a D model, I'd love to see one painted either as "Down Double" or "Hubert" of the 359th FG.

shoki · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:48 pm

I paint one as Dean hess's South Korean marked P-51D

Tim Adams · **Joined:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:17 pm **Posts:** 301

Well I'm not a pilot, but if I could have a P-51 parked in my yard, it would have to be the Red Baron RB-51, in all it Michelob glory.

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