This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:32 pm
I'm reading a biography of Gen. Lucian Truscott, who fought in North Africa, Southern France, and Italy, and it talks about him riding in a two seat P-51 with Gen. Thomas Darcy over the Po River valley in April, 1945.
Does anyone have any info on that Mustang?
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Sat Feb 03, 2024 3:59 pm
I did a little bit of looking into two seat fighter conversions a while ago and these are the P-51s I am aware of during World War II:
- P-51B, 42-106703[1]
- P-51B, 42-106894[2]
- P-51B, 43-6593[3]
- P-51B, 43-6688[4]
- P-51B, 43-6787[5]
- P-51B, 43-6865[6]
- P-51B, 43-6877[7]
- P-51B, 43-6928[8]
- P-51B, 43-12193[9]
- P-51B, 43-12478[10]
- P-51D, 44-13885[11]
- P-51D, 44-72210[12]
I believe they all were based in England though.
Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:02 pm
Later in the book it talks about Truscott riding in the back seat while Darcy strafes a column of German vehicles on a road! Quite a ride.
Truscott also seems to have gone for a number of flights in L-4s to observe the front, and visit units under his command, and he was once very nearly shot down by ground fire while riding in an L-5.
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Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:29 pm
My father was in the 15AF as a B-17 pilot.
He spoke of a flight he had in a 2-seat P-38 very shortly after the end of the war.
Don't know if it was one of the humpback night fighters we see photos of or a modified unit hack.
Sun Feb 04, 2024 2:10 pm
JohnB wrote:He spoke of a flight he had in a 2-seat P-38 very shortly after the end of the war.
Not counting the
P-38Ms or droop snoots, the P-38J, 42-67762, at NASM was once a two seat trainer.
[1] There was also an RP-38, 40-744, with a cockpit in the left nacelle that was used to test asymmetrical cockpit positions.
[2][3] In addition, a
few warbirds have a passenger seat. I haven't come across any cases of field modifications, but I wouldn't be surprised if such a thing existed, though.
Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:18 pm
Especially after the end of the war. There were a lot of people who couldn't rotate back to the U.S. yet and had time on their hands and plenty of aircraft.
I would also imagine official over sight was a bit relaxed.
He told me a favorite pastime of the fighter pilots was flying low over the Adriatic and scaring fishermen.
My father's records indicate a commendation for helping an engineering unit (perhaps the base civil engineering/runway repair unit). He worked his way through college with his hometown"s country road department... so he probably knew something that was useful in helping rebuild rural Italy.
Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:58 am
Noha307 wrote:JohnB wrote:He spoke of a flight he had in a 2-seat P-38 very shortly after the end of the war.
Not counting the
P-38Ms or droop snoots, the P-38J, 42-67762, at NASM was once a two seat trainer.
[1] There was also an RP-38, 40-744, with a cockpit in the left nacelle that was used to test asymmetrical cockpit positions.
[2][3] In addition, a
few warbirds have a passenger seat. I haven't come across any cases of field modifications, but I wouldn't be surprised if such a thing existed, though.
I remember seeing a period photo of a pilot taking his wife/girlfriend along in a P-38.... was that Richard Bong? I cannot find the photo now.
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:28 pm
Anyone have any photos of these early two seat P-51 fast back conversions? (not later D's, TF-51s)
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:33 pm
Archer wrote:I remember seeing a period photo of a pilot taking his wife/girlfriend along in a P-38.... was that Richard Bong? I cannot find the photo now.
I think I actually know what you're talking about. I came across it while researching the P-38 post. It was a
picture of Bill Lear, Jr. flying Betty Skelton in the back of his F-5G, NX56687.
sandiego89 wrote:Anyone have any photos of these early two seat P-51 fast back conversions? (not later D's, TF-51s)
Check the references in my post above. The American Air Museum's website is pretty good for it.
Mon Feb 05, 2024 4:29 pm
sandiego89 wrote:Anyone have any photos of these early two seat P-51 fast back conversions? (not later D's, TF-51s)
More can be found here-
http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e ... php?id=306
Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:22 am
Noha307 wrote:Archer wrote:I remember seeing a period photo of a pilot taking his wife/girlfriend along in a P-38.... was that Richard Bong? I cannot find the photo now.
I think I actually know what you're talking about. I came across it while researching the P-38 post. It was a
picture of Bill Lear, Jr. flying Betty Skelton in the back of his F-5G, NX56687.
Thanks! I had a different photo in mind but it was most likely taken during the same opportunity.
Wed Feb 07, 2024 11:16 am
When Yanks acquired their P-38 it had a raised second cockpit behind the first.
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