Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Vraciu on September 02, 2024, 09:50:38 PM
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First off, nice job everyone on all the skins you've been creating.
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P-51D-20-NA, s/n 44-72035
"Tall In The Saddle" - A3*3
Lt. George Edward Hardy
332nd Fighter Group, 99th Fighter Squadron
Italy, 1945
This is P-51D-20-NA "TALL IN THE SADDLE" of the 99th FS, 332nd FG, 15th AF based in Italy, coded No. A3*3. Flown by Lt. George Hardy, who flew 21 missions in it during World War II. At the age of 19, Hardy was the youngest member of the Tuskegee Airmen and was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group--known as "The Red Tails" and "The Red-Tailed Angels" due to their distinictive markings.
Born in Pennsylvania on 8 June 1925, Hardy had a long career in the Air Force. After WWII he flew 45 combat missions as a B-29 pilot then later went to Vietnam flying AC-119K gunships for another 70 missions. He retired in 1971 as a Lieutenant Colonel. His decorations include the Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. As of this submission he is one of two surviving combat veterans of the Tuskegee Airmen who served with distinction in World War Two as the first U.S. aviation unit in which black aviators saw combat action.
44-72035 "Tall in the Saddle" of the Hanger 11 Collection is purported to be Hardy's actual Mustang from WWII--although this has been disputed by some--and has been restored to flying condition in Hardy's markings. I do not have a conflicting serial number so I'm using this one.
His son Frank is a friend of mine and is a pilot with a fine career of his own (including I believe service as an F-4 Phantom pilot in the USAF). "Those are some pretty big shoes for a kid to fill."
This is most likely my last P-51D skin for AH3 barring something supremely interesting that I can't pass up.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=409725.0;attach=37679)
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=409725.0;attach=37681)
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=409725.0;attach=37683)
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=409725.0;attach=37685)
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Hawt!
Not you, but your skin creation. Excellent.
The kid was 19 when he was wranglin' that beast. Amazing.
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Very nice!
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:aok
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Very nice skin Vraciu. Sorry to hear it may be your last but I do understand.
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Nicely done, V! :aok
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Thanks all.
Just realized I forgot to enable the nav lights layer. I'll fix that in an update.
:salute
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The Hanger 11 P-51D 44-72035 is NOT the 99th FS a/c it is alleged to be.
It was assigned to the 31st FG and I have the 15th AF inventory report that shows this.
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The Hanger 11 P-51D 44-72035 is NOT the 99th FS a/c it is alleged to be.
It was assigned to the 31st FG and I have the 15th AF inventory report that shows this.
I saw this on WIX while researching the skin. I decided it didn't matter one way or the other since I'm only duplicating the original and don't think any less of the warbird as a fine tribute to a brave young guy.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=409725.0;attach=37750)
I never found the s/n that it would have otherwise been, though.