I thought this would be of interest to those on this forum.
P-51D s/n 44-72035 “Tall in the Saddle” of the Hanger 11 Collection was not assigned to the 99th FS 332nd FG Red Tails and wasn’t flown by 1Lt George Hardy.
It was actually assigned to the 31st FG based at Mondolfo Airfield near Fano, Italy. I know this will make some people quite unhappy but my sympathies rest with Mr. Hardy.
Original source documents are attached for your viewing.
P-51D 44-72035 Disposition Cover page 31st FG 1945 by fugari, on Flickr
P-51D 44-72035 Disposition 31st FG 1945 #2 by fugari, on Flickr
P-51D 44-72035 Record card by fugari, on Flickr
P-51Ds 308th FS by fugari, on Flickr
By: Jack Cook - 18th February 2018 at 00:15
BTW if you look closely at the document you will see other 332nd FG P-51Ds listed.
s/n 44-64877 and 44-64027.
By: Jack Cook - 18th February 2018 at 00:10
Form 5s don’t show serial numbers. I would not expect it to be in any other unit.
We’re talking a short amount of time and I know of no P-51Ds that were transfered
to other units. P-51B/Cs yes but doubtful a brand new aircraft.
Another thing to remember is that George Hardy joined the 332nd FG in March 1945
and didn’t start flying missions (21) until mid to late March 45. This inventory was
completed on April 20. It is irrefuteable that when George Hardy was flying with the
332nd FG that 44-72035 was assigned to the 31st FG.
BTW this came from Record Group 18 Box 5924 at the National Archives.
By: lanc35 - 17th February 2018 at 23:58
Any idea what sort of information is in logbooks for George Hardy or Captain Wendell Lucas?
By: Sabrejet - 17th February 2018 at 23:52
Nice work Jack.
However there’s a big gap between the aircraft’s Newark PoE date on 24Jan45 and the 20Apr45 snapshot; and then from there to the 10Oct45 RetUS date: do you know where the aircraft was for that whole period in theatre?
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February 17, 2018 at 9:49 pm