Warbird Information Exchange

The Hangar 11 Collection unveiled the new colour scheme for its P-51D Mustang on Saturday 4 June. It has been put back into the Red Tail colours of the 332nd Fighter Group – the Tuskegee Airmen – as 'Tall-in-the-Saddle', which was flown by George Hardy. He is still alive, aged 90, and took a great interest in the project, even supplying original photographs of the aircraft.

Very pretty! I like this one very much.

I like it! Great that they could work with and honor a living vet.

So he was 18-19 years old and flying that beautiful plane. Respect!

Very nice! right on the money.

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[Thread title is ridiculous btw]

Very nice, now scuff the bright back a bit>>

I may be the only one but, to be honest, I'm a bit tired of red tailed schemes. I am active in r/c scale model circles where red tailed Mustang and Thunderbolt schemes have become very common over the last few years so that probably has something to do with it. My .02 cents only of course.

I was very close to posting something similar earlier today.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

This aircraft served with the 332nd in Italy from March 1945, so the scheme is appropriate. Here in Europe it will be the only Red Tail on the display circuit. Pete's next project is a Soviet Spitfire IX, which is coming on nicely.

Fine idea to use actual wartime schemes the air frame wore.

A Spitfire with Red Stars would look great. Do you think the owner is game to do it?

They found a bit of red paint on the tail and are calling it a real veteran of the Red Tail Squadron. No real verified data exists that proves that at all.

The entire Red Tail 332nd FG theory was put forward by historian Alan Crouchman who had the opportunity to closely inspect the aircraft when it first arrived in the UK. At that time the rudder had been covered in sheet metal some years prior to that and was being correctly re-done in fabric. His point did not concern the rudder but part of the rear of the tail cone where he found traces of red paint. The aircraft record card, had the codeword for the UK typed on it but had this crossed out in pencil and replaced by the code for the Med theatre. These facts led Alan to conclude that 44-72035 could have been have been used by 332nd FG in Italy. In the years following this has progressed to claims that the aircraft is a actual combat veteran of the 332nd FG.

Looks really great. Will be nice to see a "D" flying as a Red Tail.

Off the top of my head these are the 8 Redtails around today-
C Models-
42-103831-Kermit Weeks
42-103645-CAF
D Models-
44-72254 -NMWWII - New Orleans
44-72035- Hangar 11
44-73683- San Diego Air and Space Museum
44-74908- Bunny- Palm Springs Air Museum
44-74216- USS Alabama Memorial
Commonwealth CA-17
CA-17 A68-39 Erickson Aircraft Collection

What ones is the list missing?

I believe that it is his intention to have red stars on it over the original RAF scheme as it would have been done in service.

Fantastic! Looking forward to seeing this.