P47D-11 "Spirit of Atlantic City, N.J."

[Nomde]

Hi Gents
This skin is named "Spirit of Atlantic City, N.J.", used by Capt. Walker "Bud" Mahurin of the 56th Fighter Group/63rd Fighter Squadren during March '44 based in Halsworth Airfield, England. He was credited with 19-3/4 kills in the ETO, and all but 3 were shot down in this plane.

The skin was created using Lt. Frank Klibbe's plane as a template and changing the interior surfaces to interior green as opposed to a mustard color.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 5 December 19~8, Walker Melville (Bud) Mahurin joined the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet on 29 September 1941. Graduating from pilot training on 29 April 1942, he was subsequently assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.

Operating out of Boxted, England, on 17 August the 56th escorted Eighth Air Force bombers to Sohweinfurt and Regensburg, Germany. When they encountered 50-60 German fighters, Mahurin accounted for two FW-I9Os.

Mahurin downed another FW-190 ten miles south of Beauvais on 9 September and became an ace on 4 October with the destruction of three Me-1 lOs east of Duren. His score mounting steadily, he was a double ace by the end of November. Promoted to major on 21 March 1944, he shared a Do-217 six days later. Minutes later his P-47 caught fire and he was forced to bail out. Evading with the help of the French underground, he made his way back to England. Transferred to the Philippines to command the 3rd Air Commando Squadron, flying a P-51D he added a Dinah to his score on 14 January 1945. Returning to the States, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 25 May.

Following the war, Mahurin served two tours in the Pentagon and later obtained a degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University. During the Korean War, serving with the 25th Fighter-interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group, he was credited with destroying 3 1/2 MiG-15s. He transferred to the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group and served as its commander from 18 March until 13 May 1952 when he was shot down by ground fire. After 16 months as a POW, he returned to the United States. Leaving active duty in 1956, he entered the aerospace industry and joined the Air Force Reserves, subsequently retiring as a colonel.

Tally record: 24 1/4 (20 3/4 in WWII and 3 1/2 in Korea), 3 probables and One damaged

Decorations: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart and the Air Medal with 6 OLCs

Left side view



Wheelwell and exhaust view


Please let me know your thoughts

[Kweassa]

Nice pair of jugs, Nomde!

[Nomde]

LOL, thx bro

mmmmmmm, man boobies