P-51H paint schemes

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:55 pm

Ok, so I'm looking for "cool" P-51H paint schemes, but I'm also VERY interested in finding out if anyone has photos of a P-51H in a combat unit at the end of WWII...

Snake45 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 05, 2014 5:49 pm **Posts:** 864

The Hs weren't deployed forward before the end of the war. There might have been some "combat units" with them but they'd have still been stateside at the time and not yet "combat units," if you get what I'm trying to say.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:30 pm

Snake45 wrote:

The Hs weren't deployed forward before the end of the war. There might have been some "combat units" with them but they'd have still been stateside at the time and not yet "combat units," if you get what I'm trying to say.

I thought that I read somewhere that a few were arriving in the Pacific... but I can't remember where I read that. Any pictures of them in an actual squadron in 1945 stateside?

Wilson · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:23 pm

Here's some schemes for you, a couple on the "bright" side:

http://rsmodels.cz/en/modely-letadel/pl ... ustang-ang

http://rsmodels.cz/en/modely-letadel/pl ... stang-usaf

Bill Larkins has several photos of them in air guard markings on his site:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34076827@N00/

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:50 pm

Wilson wrote:

Here's some schemes for you, a couple on the "bright" side:

http://rsmodels.cz/en/modely-letadel/pl ... ustang-ang

http://rsmodels.cz/en/modely-letadel/pl ... stang-usaf

Bill Larkins has several photos of them in air guard markings on his site:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34076827@N00/

Thanks. I've used Google pretty thoroughly looking for P-51H images as well as F-51H. Looking for undiscovered treasure...

marine air · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 10:56 pm

IIRC, there was only one that wasn't gray/NMF. The British example. (see the restored Whittington example). SO you have the WW II scheme, the NACA birds with yellow on the tail and then the Korean era birds also NMF. My old Tenn Air Guard unit in Nashville had a few of them. They had a squadron of RF-51D's and then one day a couple of H models arrived on the ramp from the Guard Bureau. The Air Force got rid of everything but the D's and H's after the war. The H models were never going to go to Korea because it would have complicated the supply system. A mechanic that was in the guard back then relayed the story. Since our unit was doing the foto-recon mission with cameras in the fuselages of the RF-51's a guess would be that the H models were relegated to formation flying and gunnery practice.
Come to think of it, The Knoxville McGhee TYson AFB had F-82 twin mustangs. Their role was to defend the aluminum plants in ALCOA, Tn. and THe nuclear R& D facilities at Oak Ridge. Maybe the H's were in Nashville for some type of interceptor support role if the Russkies tried to invade. I'll try to get more info on that .

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:29 pm

Here's a preview of what I'm working on...

junkman9096 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:44 pm **Posts:** 255

It has been repeated shown that no/none/zero P-51H's left the US before the end of the war. Colorwise, even the most colorful were pretty plain.
Here's an easy one:

You also check below and source some markings from a 359th FG decal sheet (Aeromaster 48-641)
http://p51h.home.comcast.net/~p51h/p51h/cc/cc.htm

marine air · **Posted:** Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:19 am

Seems like in Bud Anderson's book he talks about flying one out at Muroc Dry Lake. In addition to the Guard units and active duty training units, seems like, "maybe" a few were scattered about the Air Force in a few of the composite, weather, test, etc. squadrons.

Mustanger55 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:09 am

Hi Ryan,
"COOL" P-51H paint schemes are rather hard to come by. Post war stateside units were discouraged from applying flashy nose-art and personalized names.

That being said, I have to show my personal favorite. This scheme is what we used on the P-51H Mustang Restoration done at the Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul Illinois. It represents the personal mount of WWII Mustang Ace Claude Crenshaw, who was the 82nd FG Recruiting Officer. He was allowed to have the plane painted in markings similar to his wartime Mustangs to impress potential USAF recruits. It is unique in that Crenshaw's victory tally is also shown on the plane.
For more information and pictures, check out the project website here >>> http://p51h.home.comcast.net/~p51h/p51h/p51h.htm

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:47 am

Mustanger55 wrote:

...He was allowed to have the plane painted in markings similar to his wartime Mustangs to impress potential USAF recruits. It is unique in that Crenshaw's victory tally is also shown on the plane.

Hi Norm. First, I love what your group has done paint scheme-wise with your "H" at Chanute.

If I understand your comment above correctly, "Louisiana Heatwave" was the only "H" to have victory markings included while in military service.

Could you comment on the linked photo of 44-64461. It has appeared in at least one publication with a caption that identifies it bearing a row of four victory symbols. Thank you.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... Alaska.jpg

Deuelly · **Joined:** Thu Jul 05, 2012 3:30 pm **Posts:** 97

When did the H's get to Ladd Field? Was it before the war ended? Just curious.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:38 pm

Mustanger55 wrote:

Hi Ryan,
"COOL" P-51H paint schemes are rather hard to come by. Post war stateside units were discouraged from applying flashy nose-art and personalized names.

That being said, I have to show my personal favorite. This scheme is what we used on the P-51H Mustang Restoration done at the Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul Illinois.

Thanks, I've seen that one, although I'm surprised I haven't found more close-ups of it's stencils and markings. I don't think you guys are thinking "cool" the same way I was. Looking more for personal stories, pictures, etc... like the ones here...
http://p51h.home.comcast.net/~p51h/p51h/annex/annex.htm

Ryan

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:47 pm

How about these?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:38 pm

Seen them.

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