Hey guys,
I recently got bit big time by the “Spitfire” bug – the Eagle Squadron/4th FG variety. I must confess that in the past I’ve only glossed over the Spitfire period of the Eagles/4th, preferring to concentrate on the P-47 and P-51 eras.
Doing a little bit of research in primary 4th FG sources, including the official daily diaries of the 133 ES/336 FS and Gentile’s log book, I have a question/observation:
His Spit Vb, “Buckeye Don”, of which I’ve only seen one picture (Gentile standing by the nose art – no fuselage serial shown), is depicted as BL255 (serving with 133 Sqdn & then 336 FS) in decal sheets and beautiful models. However, in digging through the logs, and cross-referencing Gentile’s log book, I see MD-T being BL776 . . . BL255 is not mentioned at all in the daily sortie lists.*
*[One caveat/qualification: The official 133 ES/336 FS records only begin mentioning actual serial numbers, e.g., BL776, in March 1943, just about the time the slow transition to Jugs began (the 4th FG introduced the P-47 into combat). Prior to that, there’s only a written narrative for each day (no specific sortie/pilots/serial numbers) . . . and Gentile’s logbook, following RAF practice, only lists aircraft flown each day by code letter, e.g., “T” – no specific serial for each plane is mentioned.]
So, going only on the “March 1943” sortie lists, and Gentile’s logbook, my theory is this: somewhere BL255 must be shown as “Buckeye Don” – I’ll accept that, though I don’t know exactly where historians are sourcing this. But this plane isn’t listed at all in March 1943’s sortie lists. Until evidenced otherwise, I’m going on the assumption that Don flew BL255 with 133 ES, and maybe a short time with 336 FS — then, at some point in late 1942, BL255 transferred out (it is in fact known that BL255 had a life after 336 FS), and BL776 became the new “T”, and the “Donnie Boy” art panel was switched from BL255 to BL776.
This same thing happened with the art panel for Gentile’s later P-47D-1 VF-T 42-7884 “Donnie Boy”, and then his assigned P-47D-5 VF-T 42-8659 “Donnie Boy” — the latter is the only one showing up as “Donnie Boy”, but in fact 7884 (later Godfrey’s VF-P “Lucky – Reggie’s Reply”) carried the art panel first. There are numerous documented other examples of “panel swaps” in the 4th FG, both in P-47s and a couple in P-51s, so the practice was not unheard of.
Anybody have anything to add?
Thx,
Wade
By: Chicoartist - 1st June 2006 at 23:51
Thx very much for your efforts and time! Much appreciated.
I have this book, and saw that paragraph. Like so many books on the subject, a quick review of primary historical data – if it’s available and accessible – can often call into question even basic “facts” set forth in books:
BL255 was the only aircraft that Gentile christened BUCKEYE-DON
This assertion, I’ll guess, assumes that Don was assigned one Spitfire only (wrong). I’ll bet the author doesn’t know that BL776 was definitely marked as MD-T, and Don definitely flew it quite regularly at the end of the 4th’s “Spitfire era”. The real question, in my mind, is: was the Buckeye Don art panel switched from BL255 to BL776?
. . . its P-47D replacement being called DONNIE BOY
Again, incomplete information . . . there were two P-47Ds (D-1 7884, then D-5 8659) with the Donnie Boy art panel.
All three aircraft were, however, adorned with the boxing eagle motif that eventually became the emblem of the 336th FS
Not true – the “boxing eagle” became the unofficial emblem (later, after the war, the official emblem) of the 334th FS, though this could be a simple typo. Gentile, it is assumed by me and others, carried it on his planes due to his Eagle Squadron connection. Other planes, certainly several P-47s in unpublished shots I have, carried a similar “Eagle” motif.
So, you see, even a single paragraph can be dissected with adequate facts. In this case, as I’ve outlined in my posts above, corrected basic information can be set forth with primary references – the real question for all of us here with like interests is in interpolating the hard facts. To that end, unless proved otherwise, my upcoming 4th FG Spitfire painting will show BL776 marked as Buckeye Don. I can prove he flew it regularly as MD-T, but I can’t prove if BL776 carried the art panel. I can make a good case that it probably did, though! :diablo:
Cheers, everyone!
Wade
By: DazDaMan - 1st June 2006 at 19:43
BL255 MD*T
OK, according to the book (referring to the photo of Gentile standing in front of a Spitfire VB with the “Buckeye Don” noseart over his left shoulder):
A member of the 336th FS, he would go on to become the unit’s ranking ace with 21.833 kills by the time he returned to the US in late 1944. BL255 was the only aircraft that Gentile christened BUCKEYE-DON, its P-47D replacement being called DONNIE BOY and the P-51B that in turn followed in March 1944 bearing the name SHANGRI-LA. All three aircraft were, however, adorned with the boxing eagle motif that eventually became the emblem of the 336th FS. This particular fighter features two kill markings, which denote Gentile’s Ju88 and Fw190 victories claimed on 19 August 1942 just east of Dieppe. Prior to enjoying a long spell of service firstly with No 133 Sqn and then the 336th FS, BL255 had flown with 611 Sqn in early 1942. Issued to No 610 Sqn after being discarded by the USAAF in the spring of 1943, the fighter was passed to 118 Sqn in the Orkneys in late May 1944 and then back to 611 Sqn in early October.
Not sure how much of a help that is, but I hope it does! :rolleyes:
By: DazDaMan - 1st June 2006 at 15:55
Hmmm… probably not much help, but I did read “American Eagles” recently, which I’m sure has a colour profile of one of Gentile’s Spits. Will have a look.
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June 1, 2006 at 3:52 pm