P-51H Dressed As P-51D! (Lackland AFB photos)

[Randy Haskin]

As requested, some detail shots of the P-51H on the Lackland AFB parade grounds. I have more than this if there is something specific someone wants to see.

[daveymac82c]

If it's an H it's an H. Why on earth wouldn't they just paint it like an H?

From what I know there aren't that many H's around, so if it were mine, I'd take pride in what it is, and not dress it up like what it isn't.

Anyways, it's good to see she's preserved.

Cheers,

David

Man - phone "Crimestoppers"!

[Randy Haskin]

If it's an H it's an H. Why on earth wouldn't they just paint it like an H?

From what I know there aren't that many H's around, so if it were mine, I'd take pride in what it is, and not dress it up like what it isn't.

I suspect it has to do with that the current parade ground features aircraft dressed up to honor USAF 'heroes' from different eras. This 'theme' was dreamed up well after the current lineup of aircraft was installed on the parade ground...so it is a bit of a case of a square peg trying to be forced into a round hole.

I don't condone it...that's just what I see.

The fact of the matter is that there are very few people on active USAF duty who care much or know much about warbirds. There are examples of this lack of attention to detail all over the place. This is just one of those examples where the overall message is emphasized more strongly than the specific historical accuracy.

[John Kerr]

This H model has been painted like this for over 35 years. General Myers was the base commander at Lackland once upon a time. I was told when I was stationed there from 1973-1976.

[gale_dono]

awesomeness

Thanks so much!

[Randy Haskin]

This H model has been painted like this for over 35 years. General Myers was the base commander at Lackland once upon a time. I was told when I was stationed there from 1973-1976.

That's probably the most logical answer of them all.

[RyanShort1]

This H model has been painted like this for over 35 years. General Myers was the base commander at Lackland once upon a time. I was told when I was stationed there from 1973-1976.

Here it was a number of years ago (did I just say I'm getting old?)


Ryan

[gale_dono]

I assume the "contact bio-environmental engineering" tag has to do with radium instruments? Can't think of another reason.

[JBoyle]

Sadly, it's not a unique case. A lot of NMUSAF ac at bases are painted in bogus schemes (often to honor a local hero or unit...or flatter a local commander) and it's usually harmless and recognized by just the few of us.

However, it gets a bit more serious when it occurs at the Museum itself.
My favorite case in point...the H-19B pretending to be a H-19A "Hop-A-Long". That is a bit over the top for a serious museum.


That's not to say that the B-25 back dated to Doolittle's B-25B is bad, because it is replacing a lost type.

[Jack Cook]

Boy the closer you get the worse it looks

[RickH]

How about the ONLY surviving RP-63 dressed out to look like a simple P-63 ? Did ya get any pitchers, Randy ?

I've seen the H model in just an overall silver paint with nothing more than basic markings.

[daveymac82c]

Hey Randy,

thanks for the background on the aircraft collection and the reasoning behind the schemes. It makes sense, I suppose.

I'm very glad the plane is preserved, and it's not a big deal how it's painted. If it is to tribute a hero, I don't have a problem with it.

Along the same lines, the museum I'm involved with has three airplanes I can think of that are not painted as they "should" be. We have a Tigermoth that was repainted in a scheme of the solo plane of a long time volunteer who past away. We've also got a Vampire in a scheme representing the Vancouver auxillary squadron of which our Vamp never belonged too. We've also got a Canadiar Tutor painted to represent the Snowbird which the late Miles Selby flew.

Cheers,

David

[Randy Haskin]

Here's what she looked like when I last photographed her, in December 2005. You can see that the markings are in the process of being painted. They've obviously been repainted since even after that time, as the size/shape of the fuselage codes are different currently.

[Randy Haskin]

How about the ONLY surviving RP-63 dressed out to look like a simple P-63 ? Did ya get any pitchers, Randy ?

Just this one that I snapped in '05. I went out yesterday just to shoot the P-51H and P-82 by request of people in the other thread.

I've seen the H model in just an overall silver paint with nothing more than basic markings.

I've seen it that way when it is in the re-paint process. It appears that they re-shoot them every couple years.