Warbird Information Exchange

Looking for any other pictures of Elizabeth Haas' P-39Q N57591 “Galloping Gertie”.
I have only ever found this one picture and a description ..."airplane wore her red and white racing colors and the nickname "Galloping Gertie"".




44-2433 was first surplussed to Earl Ortman and raced by Charles W. Bing as NX57591 Race #12 "Juba", then sold to Elizabeth Haas.

Then donated to the NASM.
And then loaned to EAA, that did a static restoration in USAAF colors and keeping the name “Galloping Gertie”.

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

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/us/b ... light.html


https://bettyflies.org/donate


https://bettyflies.org/galleries-1

(Be sure to click on the pic of Betty with the paintbrush, as it opens a slideshow.)

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Some pics from the net...

And,,,

And more recent shots....perhaps NASM should restore this aircraft to its racing colors and better commemorate a brave and successful American Pilot in her own right.

I love this shot, she's wearing a A-2 with the transport/ferry command patch on it (can't tell which in b/w) and what appears to be one a few variants of WW2 flight suits. Was this A2 hers from WW2?

_________________
Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

Thanks for those links.
There are some good color pictures but they are of the earlier paint scheme.



The only picture of the version I'm looking for is the same one I have.

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

Still looking for some more reference.

Only thing more that I have found was......" "she prevailed upon a friend of her family, famous artist Norman Rockwell, to design a new scheme. The result was a red and white racing design that emphasized the lines of the P-39..."

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

I assume it must have been in the red/white scheme when it was donated to the NASM. Maybe they, or the EAA, have some pics taken prior to or during the restoration archived somewhere?

And using a pair of Vise-Grips to open the drain sump petcock?

I talked to a gentleman who has worked at EAA since the Hales Corners Days. He seemed to recall that the EAA didn’t paint the P-39.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Did he say what color it was when it was there?

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

He didn’t. I’ll see him tomorrow. He’s been on staff for over 40 years and was one of the guys who moved the museum from Hakes Corners to Oshkosh. He says that he remembers the plane coming to them already restored. I’ll talk to him in more detail tomorrow.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

But very carefully, note the concentration.
Chris...