43-12451 Peggy (starboard, Gil Talbot's GQ-I), Live Bait (port side, Gross)

Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51 Mustang, GQ-I, serial number 43-12451, of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, January 1944. The aircraft carries the marking "Peggy" on its right hand side. Printed caption on reverse: 'A. 43180 The American Super-Fighter. The American Mustang fighter the P-51B which has maintained a 6 to 1 superiority over all fighter[s] the Luftwaffe has thrown against them during recent attacks on enemy territory it is equipped with a 1,500 h.p. Packard manufact media-377097.jpg FRE 399 Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51 Mustang, GQ-I, serial number 43-12451, of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, January 1944. The aircraft carries the marking "Peggy" on its right hand side. Printed caption on reverse: 'A. 43180 The American Super-Fighter. The American Mustang fighter the P-51B which has maintained a 6 to 1 superiority over all fighter[s] the Luftwaffe has thrown against them during recent attacks on enemy territory it is equipped with a 1,500 h.p. Packard manufactured by Rolls Roce Merlin engine. Photo of the P-51B Mustang. Supplied L.N.A.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 399 - Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51 Mustang, GQ-I, serial number 43-12451, of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, January 1944....

Assigned to 355FS, 354FG, 9AF USAAF at Boxted. Gil Talbot flew it from Dec 1943 until 4 Feb 1944.  He added his wife 's name "Peggy" on the starboard side along with eight bomb symbols for missions flown.  A few days later, Talbot upgraded to a B-5 and GQ-I was assigned to Lt Gross.   A few weeks later, after coming back from a mission with Capt Bob Stephens where he was used as bait, Gross named GQ-I "Live Bait".  Gross's wife's name "Gwendolyn" was added in small letters near the cockpit.  Gross scored two ground victories on a Feb mission.  The 354th FG moved to Lashenden in Apr.  Flying this aircraft, Gross was credited with two aerial victories on 11 May and one on 28 May.  Full D-Day stripes were added.  A fourth aerial claim was made on 14 Jun.  Gross emergency-landed at Cricqueville, France (A-2) on 17 Jun due to a misbehaving engine.  The 354th FG moved to A-2 on 19 Jun.  Lt Gross flew his last first-tour mission on 28 Jun 1944.  Live Bait transferred to 554FTS, 496FTG, 8AF. Declared war weary. Transferred to 436FS, 479FG, 8AF.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Clayton Kelly Gross

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663512
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Wilfred A Pohmer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 364th Fighter Group 385th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-827508
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot

George P Rossman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group

Eugene E Sears

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group 434th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-767405
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Gilbert Francis Talbot

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 355th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19047591 / O-730662
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Squadron Commander

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

1 September 1944 Landing Accident Goxhill/Sta 345 Cat 3 damage Lt Eugene E Sears, 1-Sep-44. P-51B 43-12451W - 554FTS 496FTG 8AF

Crashed

23 September 1944 Landing Accident Goxhill/Sta 345 Cat 3 damage Lt Wilfred A Pohmer, 23-Sep-44. P-51B 43-12451W - 554FTS 496FTG 8AF

Crashed

4 January 1945 Taxiing Accident Wattisham/Sta 377 Cat 4 damage Lt George P Rossman, 4-Jan-45. P-51B 43-12451W - 436FS 479FG 8AF

Manufactured

Built at North American.

Delivered

Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Assigned to 355FS, 354FG, 9AF USAAF.

Assigned

Transferred to 436FS, 479FG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Transferred 554FTS, 496FTG, 8AF USAAF. Declared war weary.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjfbecker
Changes
Sources

Clayton Kelly Gross, "Live Bait", 2006 pg 150+ photo caption states "The other side of GQ-I (Live Bait). "Smitty" wanted his wife's name there and I was happy to ok that."  C.E. "Smitty" Smith was Gross's Crew Chief.  I no longer believe this caption to be true.  Steve Blake in "The Pioneer Mustang Group" 2008 states "Peggy" was Gil Talbot's wife and Talbot was assigned GQ-I until 4 Feb 1944 or a few days later.  William Hess, "The 354th Fighter Group", 2002 pg 55 says Talbot christened the aircraft "Peggy" and had it until Mar 1944 when he took delivery of a P-51B-5.

Date
Contributorjfbecker
Changes
Sources

"Live Bait", Clayton Kelly Gross, 2006 - dates and events related to 355th FS.

Facebook group, "354th Fighter Group" Jack Cook claims Kelly Gross was flying this aircraft serial number on 14 Jun 1944 when photos were taken of it with Clayton sitting on the wing and with the aircraft taking off showing full D-Day stripes (and missing vert tail stripe?). 

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=12451&Submit=Search
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=43-12451&Submit4=Go

43-12451: Gallery (8 items)

A P-51 Mustang (GQ-I, serial number 43-12451) of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. Printed caption on reverse is damaged: '...fighter. Note its 2 extra 75... ...for petrol and the four-bladed... ...6,7.'

Object number: FRE 2871 - A P-51 Mustang (GQ-I, serial number 43-12451) of...

Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group talk on the wing of a P-51B Mustang before a mission, 18 January 1944. Passed for publication 18 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Battle Of Berlin Fighter. The Mustang P-51B, newest aircraft to be used in the European Theatre of Operations, is the longest ranged single-engined fighter in the world ... and one of the fastest. These aircraft took part in last week's great air battle, escorting Forts and Liberators deep into Germany. There is reason to believe that the

Object number: FRE 2872 - Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group talk on the wing...

Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group talk on the wing of a P-51B Mustang before a mission, 18 January 1944. Passed for publication 18 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Battle Of Berlin Fighter. The Mustang P-51B, newest aircraft to be used in the European Theatre of Operations, is the longest ranged single-engined fighter in the world ... and one of the fastest. These aircraft took part in last week's great air battle, escorting Forts and Liberators deep into Germany. There is reason to believe that the

Object number: FRE 2875 - Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group talk on the wing...

Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group talk on the wing of a P-51B Mustang before a mission, 18 January 1944. Passed for publication 18 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Battle Of Berlin Fighter. The Mustang P-51B, newest aircraft to be used in the European Theatre of Operations, is the longest ranged single-engined fighter in the world ... and one of the fastest. These aircraft took part in last week's great air battle, escorting Forts and Liberators deep into Germany. There is reason to believe that the

Object number: FRE 2881 - Pilots of the 354th Fighter Group talk on the wing...

Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51 Mustang, GQ-I, serial number 43-12451, of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, January 1944. The aircraft carries the marking "Peggy" on its right hand side. Printed caption on reverse: 'A. 43180 The American Super-Fighter. The American Mustang fighter the P-51B which has maintained a 6 to 1 superiority over all fighter[s] the Luftwaffe has thrown against them during recent attacks on enemy territory it is equipped with a 1,500 h.p. Packard manufact

Object number: FRE 399 - Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51...

Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51 Mustang, GQ-I, serial number 43-12451, of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, January 1944. The aircraft carries the marking "Peggy" on its right hand side. Printed caption on reverse: Battle of Berlin Fighter. The Mustang P-51B, newest aircraft to be used in the European Theatre of Operations, is the longest-ranged single-engined fighter in the workd - and one of the fastest. These aircraft took part in last week's great air battle, escorting Fort

Object number: FRE 400 - Ground crew fit 75 gallon drop tanks to P-51...

Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group fit a fuel drop tank to the wing of a P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '300572.'[Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'BATTLE OF BERLIN FIGHTER The Mustang P.51.B, newest aircraft to be used in the European Theatre of Operations is the longest ranged single engined fighter in the world- and one of the fastest. These aircraft took part in last week’s great air battle, escorti

Object number: FRE 419 - Engineers of the 354th Fighter Group fit a fuel...

Object number: UPL 30383 - P-51B Mustang 'Peggy' GQ-I 43-12451 of the 355th...