P-51 Candyman/Moose info sought

Three shots at Lakenheath in 1989

It received a full repaint after Empire of the Sun filming in 1987

Why matt then, but not on the BH 1981 shots? I recall her as gloss (ish), but certainly not gloss in the Dux photos.

Moose was not repainted. We changed the codes and overpainted the red and yellow of the nose art and names in white, that’s all

It’s interesting that Moose was repainted from a glossy finish into a matt finish for the film, but still in the incorrect colour: were the five P-51s repainted at different locations?

Clearly the colour in the line-up (and others from the ‘film’ period) show her to be matt finish, and to my eyes the same colour (similar then) to one of the others. But then when one looks at the lineup, they all look slightly different in colour/tone. Deliberate maybe?

‘Moose’ was always painted RAF Dark Green, not olive drab. The difference from the other Mustangs during ‘Memphis Belle’ filming was very noticeable.

The background to the painting of Candyman/Moose was explained by Paul Coggan in a Warbirds Wordwide special called Mustangs Worldwide if you can find a copy.

Here are a couple of photos I took during the filming of Memphis Belle. Candyman/Moose is a different colour from its brethren.
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‘221 in the last photo looks to be the same colour as the final aircraft in the lineup (‘4727..’)?

Stephen checking out the work in the 2nd of TJ’s pics

The background to the painting of Candyman/Moose was explained by Paul Coggan in a Warbirds Wordwide special called Mustangs Worldwide if you can find a copy.

Here are a couple of photos I took during the filming of Memphis Belle. Candyman/Moose is a different colour from its brethren.
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I’d just like to add the proper credit to that great shot taken at Heathrow. Trevor Davies took the picture and scanned it for me when we detailed the Moose story on Duxford Diary thread in 2013.

Stephen checking out the work in the 2nd of TJ’s pics

Nice shots TJ!

Here are those I promised:

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Shortly before:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/North_American_P-51D_Mustang_AN2112003.jpg

Soon after:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/8541158837/sizes/l

T J

I believe I took this photo in May of 1980 at Biggin Hill If it wasn’t 1980 then it was 81

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Stephen Grey originally intended an RAF scheme as he wanted his initials on it. Paul Coggan told him he could find him an 8th Air Force scheme with his initials. Stephen wanted it to remain named Candyman & wanted green. Paul drew up the scheme as it might’ve appeared if painted green with Moose/Candyman nose art. It was flown to Heathrow & painted in time for Biggin Hill.
My 1st ever visit to Duxford, before the super hangar was built had Stefan Karwowski arrive very low & fast directly over my fathers car & my love for Moose began.

So looking closely at Sabrejet’s photos (many thanks Sabrejet!) am I right in thinking that the U/C legs and undercarriage bays are painted white?

Also (paging Mike J here…sorry to be a pest) apart from the quilted lining and rear jump seat, was the cockpit fairly standard or was there a lot of modern instrumentation? Obviously it looks as though there was gunsight fitted. My queries are for the early 80’s period.

Thanks all…enjoying the thread so far.

Best regards;
Steve

Yes – legs and bays white, doors polished aluminium. I have a few more which I’ll post tonight. Glad they are of help.

Am I the only one who thinks that just looks strange…?! :confused:

…That’s because we’ve all got so used to seeing a green “Moose” after all these years! 😀

Mike J…thanks for the further answers…

Regards;
Steve

Is there any evidence to suggest Moose was ever originally green ?

Am I the only one who thinks that just looks strange…?! :confused:

The instrument panel was a 1960/70s one IIRC, certainly the radios were of that era. I’m pretty sure that it had no gunsight fitted at that time.

So looking closely at Sabrejet’s photos (many thanks Sabrejet!) am I right in thinking that the U/C legs and undercarriage bays are painted white?

Also (paging Mike J here…sorry to be a pest) apart from the quilted lining and rear jump seat, was the cockpit fairly standard or was there a lot of modern instrumentation? Obviously it looks as though there was gunsight fitted. My queries are for the early 80’s period.

Thanks all…enjoying the thread so far.

Best regards;
Steve

Do you mean the original wartime Moose? If so, no, it was silver