"Ding Hao!"

[Jack Cook]

[Second Air Force]

Thanks for these Jack! The old 1/48 Monogram Mustang kit had some pretty accurate decals after seeing these photos.

Scott

[Bill Greenwood]

If I remember right, that P-51 was the plane of Jim Howard who became an ace on one misson when protecting bombers over Europe. One doesn't meet too many Medal of Honor winners. I was at Lakeland for Sun N Fun, and was asked if I could fly over to St. Pete Whitted( the small) airport as there was pressure to try to close it. I think it was Ed and Connie Bolen that organized the event. Some pilots did not go as the runway wasn't too long and ended in the gulf. We were royally recieved and treated to a great lunch at a very nice yacht club across the street wth Jim Howard. He was getting on in years and not in the best of health, but it was an honor to meet him. Also the airport prevailed over the no side.

Last edited by Bill Greenwood on Thu May 17, 2007 11:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

Hi Bill,
Jim Howard actually scored 3 ME-110 kills flying P-51B AJ*X
on his MOH mission. The award for more for his solo defense
of a entire B-17 group rather than the kills. He indeed was a
neat fellow and a very brave man

[Bill Greenwood]

Jack, so who flew Ding Hao, was it Don Gentile?

[Lynn Allen]

Jim Howard, as the named carried over from his Flying Tiger days...

Lynn

[Jack Cook]

Hi Bill,
This ding Hao! was Jim's second and most famous P-51B. The first just had the name in block letters. It happened he was flying a different P-51B on his MOH mission. Many believe that Jim was a AVG ace also but that's not the case. He had I believe 3.5 kills in the air. He originally had only 3 displayed on the a/c but his MOH mission the press loving brass ordered his ground kills put on also and played up the AVG ace business
has good PR. Hence all the kill flags.

[b29flteng]

I had a color slide of a guy standing under the nose of "Ding Hao" but have been unable to locate it (may have burned in house fire). A veteran gave it to me many years ago. He was going to work on the flight line in England and the 51 was sitting there and had a friend take the photo as he thought it had interesting nose art. At that time the airplane had been removed from front line service and was being used as a "hack". If I find it I'll post the photo.

[Shay]

Any record of what became of this aircraft?

Shay
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Semper Fortis