P-51A at Frederick, OK

[coastdef]

The picture below was taken just outside the old Frederick Middle School, Frederick, Oklahoma. Frederick was home to the Frederick Army Air Field during WWII, and the school mascot is the "Bombers", although they always seem to use images of fighters, even today...



Date is unknown, but is at least pre-1963 from the structures, and probably much earlier. Interesting thing is this entry in the warbird registry:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 36274.html

It appears to be the same serial number...but the history doesn't seem to match. Anyone have any ideas or opinions?

Regards,

Andy

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi Andy,

Wally is a regular around here I will see what I can find out

Thanks Mike

[Second Air Force]

Wow,

That's the second P-51 with an ATC insignia posted here in a week, and I'd never seen one before! Keep posting all this excellent stuff, everyone!

Scott

[Jack Frost]

The school mascot is probably called the Bombers because Frederick Army Air Field was a Martin B-26 Transition Training School during WW II. The late comedian, George Goebel was an instructor there so I was told 50+ years ago.

[mustangdriver]

It is a great looking restoration.

[coastdef]

Oddly enough, the mascot was the bombers prior to the establishment of the FAAF during WW2, but without the airplane image, which was adopted sometime during or very shortly after WW2. There does seem to be plenty of evidence that Geroge Gobel was at Frederick during the B-26 phase transition days of the field (1944-45). With less confidence, I've been told he was an IP.

Here are a few pictures from FAAF, mostly from class books. If anyone out there has pictures or information about the field (particularly in the B-26 phase), drop me a message, I'd love to get copies. I've had good luck with the 1942-44 time frame as a twin engine transition school flying primarily AT-17's's and AT-9's (base history from the air force, class books, newspapers, etc), but information has been harder to come by for the period where the focus was on B-26 transition.


Ramp


Control Tower


AT-9's


Base newspaper article (early 1945)


Regards,

Andy

The school mascot is probably called the Bombers because Frederick Army Air Field was a Martin B-26 Transition Training School during WW II. The late comedian, George Goebel was an instructor there so I was told 50+ years ago.