Is the P51D at Hendon still painted in the scheme of RNZAF pilot Jack Cleland’s aircraft he flew while attached to the USAAF? This was an olive drab scheme with codes B6-V and serial 413573, and nose-name “Isobel III”.
It was reported in NZ Wings magazine in 1991 that this scheme was given to the Hendon P51D. It was also later worn temporaily by the Alpine Fighetr Collection’s P51D ZK-PLI “Miss Torque” for the 1994 airshow that commemorated D Day.
I’m curious to know if the Hendon machine is still in that scheme, as their website shows one in bare metal with Donald Duck on it. Same plane??
Also, does anyone know of other RNZAF pilots being attached from the RAF to the USAAF like Flt Lt Cleland was?
Incidentally I saw a profile of this aircraft somewhere recently, might have been a recent FlyPast?
By: Dave Homewood - 22nd January 2005 at 01:05
Thanks TMN, lovely photos. It doesn’t look bad at all for a plane that crashed.
Voytech, regarding Herrick, your best bet is to approach the RNZAF Museum at [email]info@airforcemuseum.co.nz[/email] and Ian Brodie, curator at the New Zealand Fighter Pilot’s Museum (where that link I posted came from) via his email [email]ibrodie@nzfpm.co.nz[/email]
By: T J Johansen - 22nd January 2005 at 00:28
Couple of photo’s of Cosfords Mustang taken 2/1/05.
I seem to remember reading somewhere it was involved in a (sadly) fatal accident in the 1970s or 80s, and was restored as a museum piece afterwards.
Can anyone shed any more light?
The plane crashed on March 19, 1977 killing pilot Julian Jenkins and a female passenger on take-off. The plane was equipped with some kind of dual mod, so no-one really knows who actually flew the plane at the time of accident. The remains were very likely used in the static rebuild of the RAFM example, while Speer rebuilt a different airframe to airworthy standard and used the i.d. from N6526D to register it!
T J
By: oscar duck - 21st January 2005 at 23:51
The RAAF had hundreds of crews flying with other air forces including 380th BG B-24’s in Australia as well as B-26/B-25 P-38/47/40 in SWPA not to mention RAF/SAAF/USAAF units in Europe and Africa.
By: TMN - 21st January 2005 at 20:51
Couple of photo’s of Cosfords Mustang taken 2/1/05.
I seem to remember reading somewhere it was involved in a (sadly) fatal accident in the 1970s or 80s, and was restored as a museum piece afterwards.
Can anyone shed any more light?
By: VoyTech - 21st January 2005 at 15:05
Thanks! Can you suggest a good source of photos to illustrate his biography?
By: Dave Homewood - 21st January 2005 at 13:47
Speaking of which, I have been looking for good photos plus detailed info of the Pacific service of Mike Herrick. I understand he was credited with the first RNZAF kill there, or is that not true? He was killed during the invasion of France while in command of a flight in no. 305 (Polish) Squadron on Mosquitoes.
By: VoyTech - 21st January 2005 at 13:31
I wonder if any RNZAF bomber pilots or crews got attached to the USAAF (or US Navy in the Pacific too)?
Speaking of which, I have been looking for good photos plus detailed info of the Pacific service of Mike Herrick. I understand he was credited with the first RNZAF kill there, or is that not true? He was killed during the invasion of France while in command of a flight in no. 305 (Polish) Squadron on Mosquitoes.
By: Dave Homewood - 21st January 2005 at 12:41
Thank you Mike, and Martin.
Is it generally made known there (ie on the display board next to the plane at Cosford) that the scheme belonged to a Kiwi who went to fly for the RAF? And ended up in the USAAF? Flew for three air forces in one war, not bad.
Mike that link is virtually a plagerism of the NZ Wings article I just read, haha. Except the Wings article doesn’t state he was the only RNZAF fighter pilot in the USAAF. I wonder if any RNZAF bomber pilots or crews got attached to the USAAF (or US Navy in the Pacific too)?
By: Swiss Mustangs - 21st January 2005 at 12:12
that always happens at GMT+1 – I always have to rewind time in order not to post an answer before the question is on.
:p :p :p
By: Swiss Mustangs - 21st January 2005 at 12:04
In fact “Donald” is a different P-51D now resident at Hendon. Isabel III moved to the RAF Museum, Cosford and is still in this livery.
Martin
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January 21, 2005 at 11:53 am