Good question.
The video shows a hodgepodge of color 51s from the ETO to PTO.
The Osprey VLR Mustangs book references John Benbow's diary as the source of the time taken to paint the stripes and change to solid for that reason
At this point, I'm of the opinion, based on the photo evidence and Mr. Benbow's research that the 457th had solid green by the time they got to Iwo. .
Yes its a very good video... about 1:00 it shows what I think is P-51 #199 or 198 of the 47fs? flying along with 3 506th planes this is where I got #544.
I believe 47thFS was on Iwo in mid march, 506th didnt fly in till mid May.
A very good book, I have it aswell. It says....
"When the 506th FG arrived on Tinian
in late March 1945, the pilots and
crew chiefs immediately got busy
painting striped tail markings on
their new P-51s. The green stripes
of the 457th FS are visible on the
rudder of P-51 44-72599. The diary
of Capt John Benbow recorded how
it took three days to complete the
painting of his flight's Mustangs one
reason why the squadrons were
happy to convert to solid coloured
tails later on. ( Larry Dolanl)"
The 506th was on guam for a week then Tinian 7 weeks with a few flights.
I believe you could make a good case for a stripped 457th plane at Iwo at least the 1st month, anyhow maybe 1 of the skinners will do #550 "Madam Wham Dam" with dark blue striped tail. I think the stripped tails look good.
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