A long overdue update to this one:
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,385287.0.htmlI have more to do but am out of time for a bit. I’ll work on it again down the road. I think the overhead shot gives the best idea of how it looks.
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Major Edwin Walfred "Ed" Hiro
P-51D-5-NA, "Horse's Itch" (B6*D)
S/N 44-13518
357th FG, 363rd FS
Leiston, Suffolk - England
This is Major Edwin W. Hiro's P-51D-5-NA, "Horse's Itch" (S/N 44-13518, coded B6*D). Hiro was commander of the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group based in Leiston, Suffolk from June to September 1944. An ace with five victories, Maj. Hiro was killed in action on his final scheduled combat mission in a massive air battle against German Me-109s while providing air cover during Operation Market Garden.
https://obscureco.wordpress.com/tag/operation-market-garden/c. 17 September 1944 - Maj. Edwin Hiro, on the last scheduled mission of his tour, dove into a swirling Lufbery of 25 planes. A Bf 109 broke from the circle, with Hiro on its tail; F/O Johnnie Carter followed and saw the 109 crash and burn. The Mustangs turned back toward the Lufbery, but Carter became separated from Hiro, who called on the radio asking where the rest of his flight was. Leutnant Richard Franz of 7./JG 11 saw Hiro destroy another Bf 109, but closed on Hiro and almost immediately hit the P-51D in the engine and cockpit. Lt. “Ted” Conlin had seen the attack on Hiro, and had gained position on Franz just too late; as the German pilot watched his victim go in, Conlin stitched Franz’s Bf 109G-14/AS across the engine and left wing, forcing Franz to crash-land in a wooded area. Hiro’s Mustang descended gradually until it slammed into the ground; Hiro was killed as a result.Like his P-51B, Hiro's P-51D was named "Horse's Itch" for a type of mixed drink. It is modeled here after its hastily applied D-Day Invasion markings had been partly removed.
It is often (erroneously) depicted as having a white nose, but careful examination reveals it wore the standard iconic red and yellow markings of the 357th FG. A quirk of the film used for some of the photos of this airplane makes the checkers difficult to discern. While the white nose seems more fashionable to modelers, the checkered nose is accurate.
These photos are hosted offsite. If they disappear you can click on the links at bottom for those hosted here.
