Thanks to Lyric1, Mister Fork, Bustr, and Devil505 for the preemptive feedback on this one.
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,397875.0.html Hopefully it shows.
This is P-51D-20-NA "Little Girl" of the 39th FS, 35th FG based on Okinawa in the summer of 1945 coded number 10. Originally skinned by Fencer, I have taken it as an adoption. It was completely redrawn.
An ace while flying P-47s in the Southwest Pacific, primarily out of Port Moresby and the Philippines, he scored his first victory on 21 November 1944 (a Ki-46) over the Negros Islands. He would score seven victories in the Thunderbolt (3 - Ki-46, 4 - Biplane Trainers) including three on one mission, and later, what was likely the only night kill in a P-47 in February 1945.
The squadron converted to the P-51D in March, moving bases frequently until ultimately winding up on the Island of Okinawa. On 30 July 1945, Lee sank a Japanese destroyer off Goto Retto near Kyushu. earning a Silver Star. The explosion so badly damaged his Mustang that it had to be scrapped. He scored his final victory two weeks later against a Ki-84 bringing his final tally to eight confirmed victories over 150 combat missions.
He remained in the Air Force flying Mustangs, P-80s, F-86Fs and F-100s. In July 1964 he served in Vietnam as the Commander of the Special Air Operations Group, retiring in 1973 as a Colonel. In addition to the Silver Star his awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He passed away on 7 May 2015, a day after his 95th birthday, survived by his wife Lois, one son, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
