332nd Fighter Group Pt. III

[AURktman]

I drive past the end of Moton Field every morning going to work and wonder what it sounded like 70 years ago.

[Bkanen]

I initiated this thred 5 years ago and I was surprised to see that it was recently viewed. To answer your question Counter 25 was named Little Mac. I have other images of #25 and I would be more than happy to send you a high resolution jpeg of the nose art.

Cheers

Man that would seriously mean a lot to me! Sorry I didn't have notifications turned on or I would have responded sooner. You can email me at bkanen144 (at) gmail(dot)com. I would like to know as much about the plane as possible. If any of the pictures have the serial number on the tail that would be great as well. Was it W. Mattison's personal plane or do you think there is a good chance the pilot in my grandfathers picture is someone else?

Many many thanks!

[Ramitelli Red]

Capt. William T. Mattison was the Operations Officer of the 100th FS. Counter 25 was not his assigned P-51. His assigned P-51 was a P-51C-10-NT Buzz# 2 which had following noseart, portside Little Florence, Starboard side Little Deanna. P-51D #25 was assigned to Lt. Walter McCreary who was shot down and became POW while flying another P-51. I will send you some images of #25 this evening.

[Bkanen]

Capt. William T. Mattison was the Operations Officer of the 100th FS. Counter 25 was not his assigned P-51. His assigned P-51 was a P-51C-10-NT Buzz# 2 which had following noseart, portside Little Florence, Starboard side Little Deanna. P-51D #25 was assigned to Lt. Walter McCreary who was shot down and became POW while flying another P-51. I will send you some images of #25 this evening.

I can't wait to see them!

From what I just read on Lt. Walter McCreary he was shot down on Oct. 11, 1944. This would have been right before or right around when my grandfather was first flying for the 450th BG in Italy. So I think there is a good chance his picture was taken after Lt. McCreary was a POW.

I found a picture of the plane in this book which says it was taken in early 1945. I really think there is a good chance these pictures were taken on the same flight.

[Ramitelli Red]

I communicated the wrong information to you during my last reposne to you. P-51D Counter 25 was never assigned to Lt. Walter McCreary as I had previously indicated. In all actuality P-51D Couner 25 was assigned to the 100th FS as a replacement aircraft for the P-51B Counter 25 named C-Rations which was lost with Lt. Walter McCreary on 12 Oct 1944. Incedently I did post an image of P-51B Counter 25 in either my first or second 332nd FG thread. I apologize for the misinformation.

[Bkanen]

I communicated the wrong information to you during my last reposne to you. P-51D Counter 25 was never assigned to Lt. Walter McCreary as I had previously indicated. In all actuality P-51D Couner 25 was assigned to the 100th FS as a replacement aircraft for the P-51B Counter 25 named C-Rations which was lost with Lt. Walter McCreary on 12 Oct 1944. Incedently I did post an image of P-51B Counter 25 in either my first or second 332nd FG thread. I apologize for the misinformation.

Thank you, that is a simple misunderstanding and I can see how that could easily happen. Does this mean you don't have any more pictures of the P-51D counter 25?

I called my grandmother last night and she told a pretty interesting story about my grandfather’s photo collection. When my grandfather was coming home after the war the officer that was checking his gear looking for contraband or sensitive information was going to confiscate his photo album (mostly of B-24's from the 450th BG, 720th BS) until he came across a picture of a fighter. I guess it was his plane and he liked it so much that he let my grandfather bring the rest of his photos home. I should add that I don’t know for 100% certainty that it was the picture of “LITTLE*MAC” that was the officers plane from that story, however out of all the pictures I have seen from my grandfather’s collection it is the only one of a WWII fighter of any kind.

In addition, last night I discovered that the person who supplied the picture of “LITTLE*MAC” in the book from my post above (Stanley Purwinis) also posted two pictures on the 450th BG webpage that are identical to two other pictures from my grandfather’s collection. When I asked my grandmother about this she said back when they were going to 450th BG reunions, someone was making a book and they asked members to submit their photograph from the war. I guess my grandfather submitted a bunch which he never got back and was never given credit for. My grandmother did not recognize Stanley’s name but there is also the possibility that they obtained the same picture from the squadron photographer. Based on that I think that the picture from the book and the side profile picture of “LITTLE*MAC” from my grandfather’s collection were taken on the same day and possibly from the same photographer. I realize most of this information is probably irrelevant but I am trying to track down the history of this plane and possibly identify the pilot so I’m just posting this in case it relevant to someone.

Thank you for all your help.

[Chappie]

Ramatelli Red and Redtail 332,

Wonderful this thread came back around. I did not see it in 2009. I'm currently researching six living USAAF Jet Killers for a magazine article. I interviewed Dr Roscoe Brown (100th FS if memory serves) about his 262 kill. I need photos of Brown and his P-51 'Bunny'. Can you gentlemen help?

Please PM me!

Chappie

[Ramitelli Red]

I Craig Huntly was formally Red Tail 332 and since I hadn't posted anything on WIX since 2009 i was unable to effectively recall my WIX password. Last week when i visted WIX for teh first time since my last 332nd FG thread and posting as Red Tail 332, i saw that the thread had some activity I subsuquently had to re-regeister on WIX because I could not locate my password and WIX couldn't loacte my username or password.

I do have photos of P-51D Counter 25 which I will send as promised tonite for sure and for the individual seeking photos of Roscoe Brown's Counter#7 send me you email address and i will send you a few with Roscoe Roscoe in the photo.

Craig

[Peck P-47]

Craig Huntly is a good guy and knows the 332 FG very well .I have exchanged emails with him in the past.
Hope you post more on the 332 FG .
Rick Peck

[Mark Allen M]

Greetings Craig Huntly and thanks for the great thread. FYI I posted some great photos (to me anyway) on one of your other threads. Not sure if you noticed.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=29868&hilit=332nd+Fighter+Group

Mark