Restore LOU IV P-51 Mustang

We at Bottisham Airfield Museum wish the team every success. We have already been in touch and provided the team with a full set of wartime photos that should allow them to finish the aircraft correctly should they decide that to do so.

Our P-51 will be also be finished as Lou IV/Athlene in memory of Colonel Thomas Christian who was killed whilst flying from Bottisham on August 12 1944. Unfortunately Christian was buried in an unmarked grave in the WW1 cemetery in Arras.

We hope to to show what an 8th AF P-51 would have look like in the Summer of 1944.

All our research and interviews with pilots and ground crews have shown no indications whatsoever of blue paint on any 361st FG machine.

For more information on our P-51 please visit http://www.bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk/p51.htm

Thanks

Jason

www.361fg.com
www.bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk

Nicest colour scheme? Blue? The original one was olive drab wasn’t it? Did’t they use well known blue photographs published in many cheap aviation books as reference?

Cees

There is some conjecture about the possible blue topside colour, it’s alleged that a light blue shade was experimented with on some aircraft of the 361stFG. If I remember rightly, the one report of blue topsides was made by a chap who was a schoolboy spotter at Bottisham, who saw them only distantly. It would appear that this experimental camouflage idea has spread through the warbird community like wildfire, even though group veterans don’t recollect ever seeing such colours used. It’s even gone to the extent that the famous LouIV colour air-air shot has been airbrushed in some publications to make the topsides look blue. It’s a debate that bounces around the modelling forums quite a bit.

Anyway, here’s wishing the current team all the best for the rebuild, and here’s to the memory of the pilot lost in the crash that damaged her.

Nicest colour scheme? Blue? The original one was olive drab wasn’t it? Did’t they use well known blue photographs published in many cheap aviation books as reference?

Cees

*Damaged*? It was a bit more than merely damaged. McKittrick was killed….. & there were 3 incidents before that including a collision with another P51 at Euless Tx. Quite a colourful history.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51registry/p51-4463350.html

That’s probably the nicest colour scheme for a P51. Glad someone is fixing her. We had something similar with Miss Helen. Wonder whos fixing that one?

Terry Dieno, President of Fast Toys For Boys. The team is based in Canada.

In 2007 a P51 D Mustang called Lou IV was damaged in a landing accident a Camarilla, California. Become a fan to help us restore this majestic fighter!

Flying the P-51 D has been a lifelong dream for Terry Dieno, President of Fast Toys For Boys. Terry’s love for aviation heated up when he acquired his pilot’s license in 1973. This was the beginning of a lengthy career in commercial crop spraying, pipeline patrol, and aerobatics became a passion in the Yak and Pitts Special. LOU IV is one of the most photographed fighters of WWII because Major Thomas offered to fly for the picture taking press from a base in Italy.

The rebuilding of Lou IV is a task of huge magnitude and progressing slowly. The wings are now totally rebuilt, the new fuselage is a work in progress, and the tail cone and many smaller components are nearing completion.

You can easy follow the rebuild on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/restorelouiv or check out our website http://www.restorelouiv.com

Happy flying from the Restore LOU IV Team!

That’s probably the nicest colour scheme for a P51. Glad someone is fixing her. We had something similar with Miss Helen. Wonder whos fixing that one?