Mustang Driver ... Jack, who's this??

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:36 am

Here's a couple of WIX-exclusive teaser grabs from our upcoming DVD release on the 354 FG. It'll be coming out early next year.

Heh heh heh ...

Wade

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:57 pm

That's Don Beerbower.
The best of the best![/quote]

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:14 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

That's Don Beerbower.
The best of the best!

You're right, Jack. Beerbower was one of the tigers, for sure:

Maj. Don M. 'Buzz' Beerbower
CO 353rd FS, 354 FG
15.5 aerial victories - confirmed.
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (x3)
Air Medal (too many to count)

KIA 9th August 1944
22 years old at time of death.
Flak, Epernay Airfield, Riems area.
P-51B-1 43-12375; FT-E; Bonnie B II
MACR 8150

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:38 pm

Quote:

You're right, Jack. Beerbower was one of the tigers, for sure:

Maj. Don M. 'Buzz' Beerbower
CO 353rd FS, 354 FG
15.5 aerial victories - confirmed.
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (x3)
Air Medal (too many to count)

add to Wade's list.........
olc to Silver Star
Purple Heart
25 olcs to Air Medal
British DFC
Frence Croix de Guerre
2 Pres. Unit Citations
15.5 confirmed kills + 3.5 on the ground
I believe 1 probable and 9 damaged also air.
B/Gen Jim Howard MOH said he was the finest combat pilot he'd ever served with.
4 Battle Service Stars

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:55 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

add to Wade's list.........
olc to Silver Star
Purple Heart
25 olcs to Air Medal
British DFC
2 Pres. Unit Citations
4 Battle Service Stars

Thx, Jack ... I just got tired of typing!

Jack Cook wrote:

. . . Frence Croix de Guerre

I'll bet Don was the only recipient of that one!

Jack Cook wrote:

I believe 1 probable and 9 damaged also air

0.5 probable (his very first claim), and 11.33 damaged (he was spraying everything! :shock:

)

Throw in an "Unconfirmed Destroyed" (not counted in his 15.5/0.5/11.33 totals) Me 109 on 12 May 44 for good measure.

Wade

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:01 pm

Quote:

Jack Cook wrote:
. . . Frence Croix de Guerre

I could have said surrender monkey Croix de Guerre
but that would be rude or simply inserted the word freedom.

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:33 pm

I'd like to have a P-51B with the Malcom hood, we just don't see that around these days, although I once saw one in a hangar in Florida. I was offered a chance to fly a B once, but at that time I really had almost no 51 time and no type rating so I declined. If it comes again I won't!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:09 pm

Many of the veteran pilots of the 354th FG kept their Bs when the D model arrived. Seems sort of odd the leaders flying their old Bs and their wingmen in the new versions.

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Jack Cook wrote:

Many of the veteran pilots of the 354th FG kept their Bs when the D model arrived. Seems sort of odd the leaders flying their old Bs and their wingmen in the new versions.

Seems like I remember Richard Turner saying somewhere that the visibility from the Malcom hood B was better then the D as he could lean out a bit and look under the tail.

Malcom hood B/C is the prettiest of the 51s I believe.

Dan

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