Warbird Information Exchange

Maj Norm McDonald CO 318th FS

P-51B #60

1Lt Pace

1Lt Margetts

1Lt Conway

1Lt Bill Aron 5 kills KIA

1Lt John Whitten

Doc Swift 318th FS Flight Surgeon

Lefty Selenger Killed in Korea with Tommy Molland in a T-33A 1953

Norm McDonald

McDonald's #66

P-51B s/n 43-24876 lost with Lt Hodges

Maj Smith & Capt Gaunt on the loose in Rome

Harry Parker

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Don't touch my junk!!

Nice! Was captain Gaunt stylin' or what! Such a nice grouping of pics, not just the formal....get over here, stand in front of this plane, smile, click...NEXT,,,kind of shot

I'm hit with three thoughts:

1- Sometimes we get so wrapped around the warbirds it's possible to forget the crews. Great reminders Jack.

2- Some of these close ups are detail gold mines for guys like Mike V. I love it.

3- Most cockpit panel shots seem to be factory ones. Nice to see one in theatre - another gold mine. The "radio call" placard is still in use today. When we produced labels for my RV-8 I made sure my N-number placard was done in the same style.

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Good photo's Jack.
Any of Capt Gaunt's P-51?
Thanks for sharing.
Rick

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"Everyone Brings Joy to this room
Some by entering
Some by Leaving"

oi!

Two weeks ago I found crash site from P-51B 43-24876 ( Hubert Hodges; 8.4.1945).
Have anyone maybe some other photo of pilot and plane.
Plane have two names, "Madeline" and "Gravel Gertie" and number #54.

thanks
Raus

Stupid me, I was assigned to the 1st FS which was part of the 325th FW at Tyndall AFB in the early 90's, and always wondered where they came up with the "Checkered Tail Clan" motto. Now I see and know from these pictures. Did all 325th AC during this time period (WW II) have checkered tails?

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

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Mike in Florida
TSgt USAF Retired
Jan 86 - Sept 08
Aircrew Life Support
"Your Life Is Our Business"
(122X0, 1T1X1, 1P0X1)
NRA Life Member

The Checkered tails started to show up on the groups P-40's in North Africa. Once the 15th AF needed a color identify for aircraft you had the Red tails, Checker Tails, Yellow Tails and the Red Stripes of the 15th AF Fighter Groups.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Did Margetts ever play Steve McQueen?

Wonderful Jack, thanks so much for these... a good friend's father flew with the 317th during the war, Capt. Frank Schaefer... he flew "Lady Mary" (number 14), had one victory over an Italian 109, the pilot bailed out and they actually connected after the war.

He was a good man.

Thanks again, Jack.

Lynn

Jack,

Very nice... and much appreciated.

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Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

I must have missed this one originally. Thanks Jack!

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

Visit Django Studios online or Facebook!

Hi,
i'm from Italy.
I'm searching information about the air battle over north Italy fought in April 19th 1945 by the 325FG escorting a formation of B-25.
During this mission Lt. Schaefer shot down one italian BF-109 piloted by S.M.Bianchini.
Can you help me?
With my friends I'll dig the believed crash site of the BF-109.
It seemed to understand that the Cap. Schaefer was in contact with the Italian pilot, or am i wrong?
Thanks in advance for your reply!

Luca Ceriani

At the GOML there were a lot of the 325th drivers along with many others giving there stories for the interviews. I wish the tapes would surface some day. I spent a good amount of time listening to them.

Lynn

Hi,
I'm sorry but ... What is the GOML ?

Thanks
Luca.

Gathering of Mustangs and legends 2007.
Took place in Columbus Ohio.

Andy