Great idea for a P-51 paint scheme?

[eallen]

So please forgive me if this is not the place for this! I am not sure of the process or protocol for how paint schemes are chosen for the various restoration projects. I know that I have seen and heard of folks doing research and/or recommending certain schemes for a variety of reasons. It seems that some are chosen because the guy who flew that aircraft is still around and the plane and pilot can be reunited so to speak. With that said I would love to see a P-51 restored as "Josephine" that was flown by Joe Peterburs. I cannot remember one being painted in what I think is the 55th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group. Joe is a "baby" at 92 compared to some of his WWII peers. He lives in Northern California and I was introduced to him several years ago by a family friend. Joe tries to make it out to a couple of air shows each year and remains active in WWII and aviation history. He is one of the few to have shot down a 262 jet. He also flew Mustangs in Korea.

Here is a link to some info on Joe and I am sure there is lots more out there! http://users.fred.net/dails/joep/welcome.htm

I would bet that I will be corrected and educated by starting this message which is not a bad thing! Or better yet this will grab the attention of someone restoring a Mustang looking for a paint scheme.

[Chris Brame]

I like this one! Minor correction - The nose stripes should slant towards the rear, like this:

[eallen]

Chris...the black and white photo Joe shared with me...the drawing was shamelessly borrowed from the internet. Thanks for updating it...looks great!

[C VEICH]

I like this one! Minor correction - The nose stripes should slant towards the rear, like this:

Any documentation to back this up? Certainly would be non-standard for a 55th FS Mustang.

[eallen]

Well...C VEICH, I can get you Joe's email and you can ask him? I did find a 20th Fighter Group website that appears to have lots of good info. http://www.20thfightergroup.com

[DH82EH]

Shouldn't it be powder blue?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

That is a really good scheme.

Andy

[Jesse C.]

Would be a nice change from so many Yellow and Red noses out there.

[C VEICH]

Well...C VEICH, I can get you Joe's email and you can ask him? I did find a 20th Fighter Group website that appears to have lots of good info. http://www.20thfightergroup.com

It's nothing so important that I would bother Mr Peterburs with it. Just curious as I have not come across any photos or drawings that show the stripes angled rearward. At least none that were obviously so anyway. If indeed it was the case with "Josephine" then I wonder if she was unique or if it was common among the squadron's aircraft.

[Chris Brame]

Any documentation to back this up? Certainly would be non-standard for a 55th FS Mustang.

Just going by visual reference in the photo; note the somewhat acute angle between the last stripe and the anti-glare panel, and also note how the stripe and the vertical stroke in the "K" are not parallel. I don't think this was camera distortion.

[Richard W.]

Fantastic scheme, for certain.

I'd love to see it recreated, too.

[eallen]

Well...C VEICH, I can get you Joe's email and you can ask him? I did find a 20th Fighter Group website that appears to have lots of good info. http://www.20thfightergroup.com

It's nothing so important that I would bother Mr Peterburs with it. Just curious as I have not come across any photos or drawings that show the stripes angled rearward. At least none that were obviously so anyway. If indeed it was the case with "Josephine" then I wonder if she was unique or if it was common among the squadron's aircraft.

I am no expert but wasn't all the painting/lettering etc done by hand so there would be some variances between each plane's paint and art?

[airnutz]

Shouldn't it be powder blue?

Powder blue would be the wrong shade of blue which originally wrongly was more of a Royal Blue. If you're gonna do it wrong, might as well get it right! Um, er, um...unless it was your intent to have the wrong wrong color ?

Yep this would be a good scheme, agree on the slanted stripes.

[DH82EH]