Chuck Greenhill's P-51 LOU IV at OSH 2010

CraigBirkhold · **Joined:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm **Posts:** 64

Could it be possible that "LOU IV" was painted on the right side for a period of time then switched to "ATHELENE" or do you think that "ATHELENE" was on there from the very beginning? Nobody has ever told me the history behind the names and I was wondering if they were family or friends of Col. Christian?

airnutz · **Posted:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:35 pm

CraigBirkhold wrote:

Nobody has ever told me the history behind the names and I was wondering if they were family or friends of Col. Christian?

CraigQ explained in an article, Athelene was the mother or sister of the crew chief. Reckon he'll be
around to illuminate a bit more.
:wink:

EDIT

CraigQ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:50 pm

CraigBirkhold wrote:

Could it be possible that "LOU IV" was painted on the right side for a period of time then switched to "ATHELENE" or do you think that "ATHELENE" was on there from the very beginning? Nobody has ever told me the history behind the names and I was wondering if they were family or friends of Col. Christian?

Col.Christian named his aircraft LOU after his baby daughter, first & second were P-47D razorbacks , LOU III was a P-51B and of course LOU IV was the P-51D.

ATHELENE was Col.Chistian's crew chief Pete Army's wife.

Craig Q

CraigBirkhold · **Joined:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm **Posts:** 64

Thanks for the info on the names. Was "ATHELENE" painted on the right side of the D Model from the very beginning? It is interesting that no one has painted it correctly on the many Warbird Mustangs that have worn this paint scheme. Maybe it is just some kind of fluke. :rolleyes:

CraigQ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:13 am

CraigBirkhold wrote:

Thanks for the info on the names. Was "ATHELENE" painted on the right side of the D Model from the very beginning? It is interesting that no one has painted it correctly on the many Warbird Mustangs that have worn this paint scheme. Maybe it is just some kind of fluke. :rolleyes:

To the best of my knowledge yes it was, and on the B model too. I am sure that the lack of knowledge of the name is the contributing reason that it has not been on a warbird before. That P-51D had a very short life and that picture was taken somewhere about early to mid.

Craig Q

airnutz · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:02 pm

CraigQ wrote:

ATHELENE was Col.Chistian's crew chief Pete Army's wife.

Craig Q

Thanks for setting me straight Craig. I originally had posted "mother or wife", but after doublechecking your
Hyper Scale "Athelene decal" article of 2003 I edited wife out and posted as per article. Is it
difficult to correct the original?

CraigBirkhold · **Joined:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm **Posts:** 64

Thank you for the time frame on the name. Could you tell us when Col. Christian switched from the B model to the D model? I think that I was told that Col. Christian and "LOU IV" were lost over France and wondered if you could give a few more details? Also, do you have a picture of the "LOU III" B Model Mustang? Thanks, Craig B.

CraigQ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:15 pm

airnutz wrote:

CraigQ wrote:

ATHELENE was Col.Chistian's crew chief Pete Army's wife.

Craig Q

Thanks for setting me straight Craig. I originally had posted "mother or wife", but after doublechecking your
Hyper Scale "Athelene decal" article of 2003 I edited wife out and posted as per article. Is it
difficult to correct the original?

If I remember, the pilot who sent me the picture told me he thought it was Pete's sister or mother and I went with that for the article. Years later after the article I did find out that Athelene was actually Pete's wife.

Craig

CraigQ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:39 pm

CraigBirkhold wrote:

Thank you for the time frame on the name. Could you tell us when Col. Christian switched from the B model to the D model? I think that I was told that Col. Christian and "LOU IV" were lost over France and wondered if you could give a few more details? Also, do you have a picture of the "LOU III" B Model Mustang? Thanks, Craig B.

Col.Christian & LOU IV were lost on 12 Aug 44 when dive bombing railyards at Arras France. He was last seen making his dive and failed to rejoin the group. Past that it's on the cloudy side. Witness's reported seeing a P-51 hit and lose a wing, and that the pilot survived but died later from injuries.
Per it's IARC, 4413410 aka LOU IV was assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 10 June and to the 361st on 24 June 44 so it was late June when Col.Christian took the aircraft.

Here is the best and only picture I have or know of LOU III.
Craig

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:30 pm

Major Christian receiving the Silver Star by M/G Harmon flor valor while flying a P-400 from Guadalcanal with the 67th FS in 1942.

Baldeagle · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:42 pm

Must be my imagination, or fluke in the print, but is the inboard part of the right wing a lighter shade than the outboard part? Also camo around the nat'l marking seems lighter than the tail decor.

-

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Possibly overpainting of the overwing invasion stripes? The date (late-June 1944) would seem right for this.

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1471

Baldeagle wrote:

Must be my imagination, or fluke in the print, but is the inboard part of the right wing a lighter shade than the outboard part? Also camo around the nat'l marking seems lighter than the tail decor.

-

This has been discussed previously here: http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... p?p=304525

k5083 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:50 pm

Is there any further information about that sharkmouthed Mustang next to Lou III?

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Chuck Greenhill's P-51 LOU IV at OSH 2010

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