Warbird Information Exchange

Hello,

I just heard via some friends about a P-51D wreck which was recently found near Wakayama, Japan (in the water). It was reported lost on August 8, 1945. Does anyone have any more details?

Take care,

Ron

hmmmmmm

neither in the MACR nor in the Accident Report listings I can find a loss of a P-51 that fits your description.....

will check individial unit records now.

Martin

According to Flypast this was a 72 FG machine, which crashed while strafing Japanese shipping on Aug 8th 1945 - But it does not give a Sqn or serial number

Go here for the story of "Sparkin Eyes" Thinking it might be this one.

http://www.7thfighter.com/78th/history/Gordon.htm

Dan

Dan,
I doubt if that's it. Scott went down on July 4, 1945 over a month earlier and was in the 78th FS 15th FG not the 72nd FS 21st FG. The 15th Fg had no loses on Aug 8th leaving the 21st FG. There were 5-7 Mustang loses on Aug 8 Capt Jack Ort flying "Abortion" who was seen to belly in in a rice paddysouth of Osaka being capture and executed by the Kempei Tei. The other was Capt Bill Merritt of the 72nd FS in s/n 44-72879who was reported KIA over Honshu by flak. I'm not thinking that this would be Merritt's a/c. It just so happens that the 72nd FS CO is a very good friend and lives an hours down the freeway. I'll contact him for further info.
BTW very nice profile but I think 7th Ftr Cmd is part of the 7th AF

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

A little more digging and knowing who to ask gives the following info.
1Lt Marcus McDilda 46th FS 21st FG P-51D s/n 44-63901 "The Gator". He bailed out at 500 feet over the water just off the coast when his engine seized and was quickly captured. A total of 7 Musytangs were lost of Aug. 8th.

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

Dug through from pictures and came up with this..................

P-51D s/n 44-63901 #226 "The Gator" 46th FS 21st FG 7th AF
Ok-Dan get to work!

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

That sounds interesting. I think that the webmaster of the 7th Fighter site might know some more about all that...
That's cool to see that profile of Gordon Scott's plane. I got to spend an afternoon with him and 3 other Iwo Jima P-51 pilots along with the 7thfighter.com webmaster back in February in Fredericksburg, TX for the Iwo Jima 60th anniversary. Think I have Mr. Gordon on Mini DV tape somewhere around here telling his story. Wrote up a little more about it on my website.

Ryan

_________________
Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

So lets say this Mustang wreck is there and Hypothetically lets say the condition was such that made it worth recovering. What kind of obstacles would one face when dealing with the Japanese government? Have any other aircraft been recovered from Japan? Thanks

Shay

Hello,

Interesting info guys - thanks. I (think) the wreck has broken up and a few bits were already recovered.

Take care,

Ron

any more word on the P-51??

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

Jack,

Sorry, not a word since the initial news broke. Will let you know if anything develops.

Ron

Everyone should read the fascinating combat report under Sparkin' Eyes., even though it may be a different Mustang. Gordon Scott is a great guy, he lives just outside of Alamosa in southern Colorado and last I talked to him he was still going strong. He was my FAA examiner for my commercial license, and he does AOPA pinch hitter courses and I think AOPA and Bonanza Ass. etc. mountain flying courses. Most fo us need some power to fly around in the moountains, Gordon does it with a Cessna 150!

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK