357th FG questions

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 3:49 pm

Hi All, working on a couple projects with the 357th and have run into either missing info and clashing info.
1. On P-51C 4325039, piloted by Louis Fecher, 364th FS, C5-K I am hunting for Crew Chief name and armorer name.

2 on P-51B 42016539, piloted by Eddie Simpson, 363rd FS, B6-L, I am trying to figure out if the rudder is red or O.D. and if any indication of the horizontal white stripe on the stabilizer being painted over was there.

Here is where I am at the moment on the first. Thanks for the help.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:12 pm

367th FG flew P-38s/47s in the 9th AF.
That's what threw you off :idea:

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:31 pm

357th FG, 357th FG, 357th FG, 357th FG, 357th FG, 357th FG, 357th FG, 357th FG,.....do I really have to do this 100 times? How bout I just slap my fingers?!? :wink:

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:27 pm

Chris - there's a 357th Fighter Group fan page on Facebook. I'm sure you can get detailed answers there.

Wade

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:30 pm

Thanks Wade, I'll do some digging there
Chris

Starduster77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:00 am **Posts:** 169

This might help.?
http://www.cebudanderson.com/simpson.htm
He was lost on Aug. 10th 1944 in another P-51 so the rudder would be OD.
Red was not used till late 1944.
Rick

Holedigger · **Posted:** Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:57 pm

Good catch Starduster, so it is a good bet the rudder was OD as the order for color hadn't hit yet before she was lost. So the one reference I found for this bird with a red rudder is wrong (from an artist whose work I admire, Stan Stokes).

I've tweaked Li'l Kitten a bit by adding a fillet to the tail, seems she had one ( at least one source says so) but still hunting crew chief and armorer.

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:20 am

Well, I'm still digging for the elusive Crew Chief and Armorer for Fechers "Li'l Kitten.

Have a new quest as well. I am searching for a 352nd FG Patch, was it so bad everyone burned them???? Not in any of my books and have scoured the net....no 352nd? Guess I haven't looked under the right rock yet! All the pics from Oshkosh made me do a Bluenoser.

Django · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:17 am

Those look great!

On the 2nd one, would there really be that much bleed through on the national insigina over the green?

Holedigger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:35 am

That bleed through has already been "rectified"! Dealing with so many layers, sometimes things go wonky. I didn't notice it till I had posted it. Too busy being zoomed in 400% playing with rivets to see the whole picture!

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357th FG questions

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