Can you help me ID this Fighter Group?

CLETUS · **Joined:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:55 pm **Posts:** 12

This picture was sent to my attenion by a member of the 485th BG location of plane on the ground at Venosa, Italy 1944. What I know is that the 325th FG (also known as the Checkertail Clan) flew escort duty for the 485th BG at this time during WW2. I have shown all my old pilot members of the 325th FG this photo and no one remembers a checker-tail in Olive Drabe. All Checkertail Clan planes were Silver so the Germans could see them coming after them. The CO planes were silver also. Help me figure out this puzzle please.
CLETUS

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:59 am

I'd say it's a X-31st FG P-51B/C. Either transfered from the 31st or repaired and assigned to thew 325th.
I have some photos of others wearing 31st codes and 325th tail markings.

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Seems to me I recall seeing a checkertail Mustang at Debden with the 4th FG in England. The caption stated that it was flown back by a pilot whose 4th FG P51 had been left behind with mechanical trouble. They'd been in Italy on the return leg of the Russian Shuttle runs.

Could be this is one of those 4th birds left behind that got absorbed by the 325th and repainted in their markings?

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Looking through the serials in "Escort to Berlin" makes me think that it's one of the 4th birds left behind. If you look at the picture you can see where code letters have been over-painted, in particular where the single letter would be by the tail.

The book lists 4 P51B/C left in Italy and has a photo of a 325th P51B that was used by a 4th pilot to get home to Debden.

Adam Kline · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:46 pm

Dan Johnson may be right. Looks like P-51B serial 43-6753 was trfd to an Italian based squadron. Does not say which.

Adam Kline

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:31 pm

A number of 31st a/c transfered to the 325th were OD and had the codes also which were
painted out. So which one it would be is anyone's guess.

CLETUS · **Joined:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:55 pm **Posts:** 12

This is the only other photo of the plane.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hp ... 9557_n.jpg

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:42 pm

Yup that sure looks like a X-31st FG ship with the wing stripes.

P-51B X-31st FG assdigned to 325th FG in 1944.

CLETUS · **Joined:** Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:55 pm **Posts:** 12

Were these planes part of operation "FRANTIC JOE" and tranfered after the end of the operation to the 325th FG in Italy. I was thinking Gen. Spaatz ordered all P-51's to be painted silver? The only outfit I recall in Olive Drabe, is the one that Bud Anderson flew in with "OLD CROW"

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:02 pm

When the 31st FG converted from Spits to P-51s the first ones they rec'v were OD.
When the 325th FG began converting from P-47s to 51s they rec'v some a/c from the
31st than had been damaged and depot repaired. Hence the dual markings.

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Nice photo Jack

The wing bands are standard Mustang MTO ID bands though aren't they? That isn't something that was particular to the 31st. I noticed in Robert Goebel's book, there is a photo of him sitting in 'his' P51B and it's an OD bird with the early style radio mast like the first image.

I suppose if it had been a Russian shuttle 4th 51 there might be more obvious evidence of invasion stripes painted over on the original picture as well.

Interesting mystery

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:57 pm

Has far has I understand the red spinner was the only ID marking required for 15th AF fighters.
The 31st did use the mid wing yellow band. The 12th may have required it for the A-36s but I'm
not sure about that. The only 4th ships left in Italy were NMF Grover Seims's being one of them.

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

The yellow ID bands were standard on MTO fighters along with the red spinners.

So how bout some more 31st B/Cs Jack?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2011 4:22 pm

Quote:

The yellow ID bands were standard on MTO fighters along with the red spinners.

I thinking nyet......... :shock:

The 14th Fg, 1st FG, 82nd FG didn't have them. The 12th AF required them on A-36s. The
325th FG had them on the inboard wing sporadicially starting in late summer 1944. Some 31st Spits had a yellow
stripe on the wing tip but when they got P-51s most all had the mid wing stripe.

Quote:

So how bout some more 31st B/Cs Jack?

I don't share :shock:

Riddle , Goehausen, Molland, McCorkle, McLaughlin & Voll.

Lt Ernie Shipman by his new P-51B

1Lt Van Ausdell in his HL+Q Aug 1944

Van is ready to go.

2Lt Goehausen after his 5th kill

Col McCorkle

1Lt Bob Riddle

Capt McLaughlin

Maj Fields-KIA

Maj "Stick" Thorsen

Tommy Molland

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Nice pics again Jack

But the MTO stripes were on the fighters

Not the 38s as recognition wasn't a big issues. You can see them on the Jugs too. Think Hun Hunter XIV etc. The yellow band tended to go right over the bomb/DT shackles

325th with the later version inboard and outboard

332nd same bit

At the depot painted on before being assigned

A description from one of the 51 books floating on the shelves here

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Can you help me ID this Fighter Group?

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