Don Gentile’s North American P-51B Mustang “Shangri-La”

[APG85]

Was anything ever saved from Don Gentile's P-51 after he crashed it at Debden? What was the origin of the nose art he had on his planes?

[Duggy009]

I doubt it.
Don Gentiles Last Haircut
LINK - http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e ... php?id=291

Shangri-La -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri-La

[APG85]

I doubt it.
Don Gentiles Last Haircut
LINK - http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e ... php?id=291

Great article on the crash! Thank you for the link. Gentile seemed to be quite a character. He's lucky he wasn't killed in that stunt/crash. The paint scheme on his plane was always one of my favorites. I'm sure there are bits of this plane...forgotten is somebody's attic. Shame the nose art/cowling wasn't saved.

Good (long) article on Gentile:

https://acesofww2.com/USA/aces/gentile/

[JohnB]

Sadly (and perhaps not surprisingly), the crash isn't mentioned in Gentile's 1944 autobiography One-man Air Force co-written with NANA war correspondent Ira Wolfert.

The book attributes the title phrase to Eisenhower, though it sounds more like something dreamt up by a newspaper man or VIII FC public relations officer.
Churchill of course was more erudite, calling Gentile and his 4th FG wingman John Godfrey the " "20th Century Damon and Pythias".

[JimH]

Wade Meyers spent some time at Debden and did some great 'then and now' photos around the base. During his trip he visited the farm field where she came to grief and met the land owner. He confirmed there is no 'pond' where she was reportedly dumped. Wade has mentioned that the USAFM has a lot of Gentile's wartime momentos, including cockpit instruments that were mounted in Shangri-La.

There are a few photos of her being stripped down for useable parts and I'm sure what was left was sadly scrapped. A few years ago a son of a 4th FG Veteran found, and posted on Facebook a German 'victory' cross that was cut from the fuselage and brought home by his father. The cross was matched to photos of her, not sure where this bit ended up. If you are on FB it's worth a search, with Joe Gentile participating as well.

Jim

[Mark Allen M]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UTPKG9pAJ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_xiT-SBBI

[APG85]

Wade Meyers spent some time at Debden and did some great 'then and now' photos around the base. During his trip he visited the farm field where she came to grief and met the land owner. He confirmed there is no 'pond' where she was reportedly dumped. Wade has mentioned that the USAFM has a lot of Gentile's wartime momentos, including cockpit instruments that were mounted in Shangri-La.

There are a few photos of her being stripped down for useable parts and I'm sure what was left was sadly scrapped. A few years ago a son of a 4th FG Veteran found, and posted on Facebook a German 'victory' cross that was cut from the fuselage and brought home by his father. The cross was matched to photos of her, not sure where this bit ended up. If you are on FB it's worth a search, with Joe Gentile participating as well.

Jim

Awesome! Thank you for posting this. I'll have to search for pictures of the Victory Cross.

[JimH]

You bet! Wade Meyers Studios is the Facebook page you want to search. Debden 2002 Album. The nose art on Shangri-La is a take on the 4th FG "Boxing Eagle" insignia, which was the official/unofficial group insignia. It was painted by Sgt. Fred Rice, who hailed from Colorado, and passed away in 1966. It originated on Hurricane and Eagle Squadron Spitfires, and actually carried on in to Korea on F-86's.

Jim

[JimH]

Here is the fragment...search the 4th Fighter Group Page on FB for the entire thread. They really took their time to figure out where it was on the scoreboard...

Jim

Attachments

[goaly]

I've always been a big fan of this nose art. My daughter painted this for me on a DC3 cowling. I must not have been real clear when describing it, because she used the Eagle from his P-51 and the name from his P-47.

[APG85]

I've always been a big fan of this nose art. My daughter painted this for me on a DC3 cowling. I must not have been real clear when describing it, because she used the Eagle from his P-51 and the name from his P-47.

That's awesome! Wasn't the Eagle also on his P-47?

[APG85]

Here is the fragment...search the 4th Fighter Group Page on FB for the entire thread. They really took their time to figure out where it was on the scoreboard...

Jim

That's neat that fragment survived. Where is it now?

[goaly]

That's awesome! Wasn't the Eagle also on his P-47?

Yes, but the Eagle looked slightly different. He also had an Eagle on the Spitfire called "Buckeye Don" that he flew before the P-47. That Eagle was slightly different as well.

[APG85]

It would be neat if there was a P-51B painted up as Shangri-La. I think there was one years ago (1980's?) thaat had the paint scheme but it has since been repainted as something else. To me, Shanrgri-la is one of the most iconic P-51 paint schemes.