Author Topic: Mystery Photo for you 4th FG guys (Read 1445 times)

Treize69 · « **on:** April 16, 2006, 01:21:37 PM »

The picture was taken at the end of august or begin of september '44 on Popesti -Leordeni airfield ( SE of Bucharest).

P 51-D Mustang WD-O "Thunderbird", Sn 44-13555 assigned on 19 june '44 to pilot Ted Lines (southwest Indian Thunderbird his personal emblem).

The problem is that there is no record of this A/C having been lost on the shuttle raid, and no reason it would have been found this far east after that.

Does anyone have any idea, we're stumped!

68slayr · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2006, 04:02:53 PM »

Wat does A/C mean?

gripen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2006, 04:44:49 PM »

Maybe that plane was there for navigational error (or technical problem etc.) and returned back later.

gripen

Treize69 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2006, 06:17:18 PM »

A/C is short for Aircraft.

We discussed the possibility of a lost or damaged aircraft landing in (by then) friemdly Romania, but it seems a long way to go with Switzerland closer to England and much of France and the Low Countries in Allied hands.

One of the aircraft with the WD-O codes is listed as "fate unknown" on the 4th FG site, could this be it?

MiloMorai · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2006, 07:44:06 PM »

Treize69,

some of the shuttle missions were flown from Italy.

Treize69 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2006, 08:00:37 PM »

Yes, the 4th flew the first one. Theres listings of all aircraft involved, which ones were lost, and which ones came back, but no mention of this aircraft.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2006, 11:58:49 PM »

44-13567 WD-O MIA 8/18/44 Although it looks like this one was over France so that doesn't fit.

Lines WD-O/D survived the war

44-14066 WD-O MIA 8/28/44-Another mission that was Germany/France.

Where's the photo from? What's the 4 blade bird next to it?

Treize69 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2006, 12:23:13 AM »

Romania, and I assume thats another P-51 next to it. Itys a zoom in on that pic, source (Dan Melinte) says that its a shot of several P-51s on that field- all the rest are 15th AAF birds, he noticed that one on a closer look.

I haven't seen the whole pic, I'll try and see if I can get a copy of it and post it up here.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2006, 12:29:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Treize69
Romania, and I assume thats another P-51 next to it. Itys a zoom in on that pic, source (Dan Melinte) says that its a shot of several P-51s on that field- all the rest are 15th AAF birds, he noticed that one on a closer look.

I haven't seen the whole pic, I'll try and see if I can get a copy of it and post it up here.

Hmmmm, the 4th left some birds behind with the 15th and flew some 15th birds back to England. Wonder if it's one of those left behinds? Looks like its a non-fin fillet D-5 model. They didnt have that many D's on the shuttle runs and it looks like only one D model was lost but that was WD-K 44-13402.

Gotta solve the mystery

Second thought was it was a 52nd FG bird since those 15th AF Mustangs carried the same codes as the 4th, but they had the individual codes on the tail.

hmmm. 44-13399 WD-? salvaged on the Russian Shuttle run 6/21/44.

Treize69 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2006, 12:41:01 AM »

Yup, we've been wracking our brains for months, finally decided to expand the 'hunt' to another group of enthusiasts.

Heres the whole photo-

Just a quick observation- I don't recall ever seeing a 15th AAF bird with D-Day stripes...

And none of my 4th books make mention of any P-51Ds left behind after the shuttle raid in flyable condition, just wrecks and missing birds. WD-O isn't among them.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2006, 01:06:55 AM »

Hmmm. Interesting as the 325th Checkertails were the guys that swapped 51s so that the 4th could get their guys home. Here's an image you've probably seen of one of the 325th birds back at Debden.

Makes me think even more it was one of the 4th birds left with the 325th 'traded' for a flyable 51 to get home in. Definately appears to be a D-5 so that would fit that time frame.

Wonder if we can track the story on that 51B from the 325th. Can you make out the name? looks like the number is 71

Treize69 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2006, 01:44:19 AM »

'Sleepy' something. Looks like 'Dan' or 'Don' or something else 3 letters and starting with D.

EDIT: Second look, maybe 'Sleepy Ann' ?

Wolf14 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2006, 01:49:08 AM »

Looks to me like it says "Sleepy Ann"

Guppy35 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2006, 02:15:52 AM »

Quick googling turns up "Sleepy Ann" of the 319th FS, 325th FG, flown by Clint Lightfoot, although they list the A/C number as 88. Thinking we've got it, but the number is 71.

Kinda fun playing detective. Now where to go....hmmmm......

A little more digging turns up Clinton W. Lightfoot, 15th AF Pilot, 30 combat missions in P51 Mustangs.

Turns out he's from Minnesota. Think he's passed away though as he's honored by his wife on the WW2 memorial in Washington. Wonder if I can find her?

gripen · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2006, 02:54:04 AM »

Treize69,
Is there a reason to believe that this plane (P-51D, WD-O) was damaged or lost?

If it returned back later, there is no loss record (nor damage record). It appear to be on some kind of stand in the picture but otherwise nothing indicates that it's damaged.

gripen