Big Beautiful Doll in 361st FG Markings

Django · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2012 3:01 pm

This is pretty neat. I never knew this. Does anyone know if any other photos have ever turned up?

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/article ... hp?aid=577

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2012 4:20 pm

Would be pretty neat to see a full picture of the plane. Especially color!

Laggin' Dragon · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:02 pm

I know this much... she wouldn't have had any blue on her. That is a common misconception due to poor quality wartime photos. I've talked to several 361st FG ground crewman and asked them about the supposed "blue camo" and they've all stated .. "WE NEVER had any blue camouflaged 51' in the 361st."

If anything she was camoed in either RAF green of flat olive drab over her upper surfaces. Interesting paint scheme though.

Regards,
Laggin' Dragon

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:03 pm

I believe the blue rudder/yellow nose are accurate unit markings, but not for the Doll, which had black-and-white checkers on the nose and wingtips, and a white rudder with red outline (I don't know the specific unit designations.) Edit: reading the article it appears the Doll may have been repainted in the colors portrayed on the model, so it may be accurate.

The "blue camouflage" is the subject of continuing debate..I fall firmly in the "green" camp myself, but there are others who swear that it was blue based on anecdotal and spotter reports.

SN

Django · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:04 pm

This has nothing to do with the never ending blue camo debate. Lt Col Landers was promoted to Col and made CO of the 361st and to date there is only 1 known photo, which is what this model is based on. I thought the model was neat to see as this was all new info for me.

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery. ... rchString=

Quote:

The caption that came with this one just said "Mac and Bill Street". Mac is at present unknown as the photo was obviously taken after the end of hostilities. Lt. William H Street was the pilot of 44-63167 E2-W "Weeping Willie" but the important thing about this photo is that it shows part of Col. Landers' "Big Beautiful Doll" and is the only photo that I know of so far, showing the "Doll" in 361st FG markings. Plese see enlargement for more details.

Photo: Jack Johnston

44-72218 E2-I "Big Beautiful Doll". There has always been a degree of conjecture over this a/c with the 361st FG. All that has been established previously is that when Col. John D Landers was transferred from the 78th FG in June 1945, he brought with him his P-51D 44-72218 WZ-I. This a/c was recoded to E2-I and the red outlined black and white 78th checkers changed to the yellow nose of the 361st. Noticeable in this photo is that the name panel now has the "Lt.Col." changed to "Col." and the background colour changed to red. Thanks to research by Craig Quattlebaum and Jack Johnson it has been established that the canopy rail was painted in the medium blue of the 375th FS along with the rudder and wing tips. As can be seen, the original "Big Beautiful Doll" was retained as was the scoreboard.

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Big Beautiful Doll in 361st FG Markings

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