44-14843 Gumpy, Balls of Fire
media-388248.jpg
FRE 5305
P-51 Mustangs (VF-4) [42-106894] of the 4th Fighter Group, (CV-Q) of the 359th Fighter Group, (LC-D) of the 20th Fighter Group, (LH-V) of the 353rd Fighter group and (C5-Q) of the 357th Fighter Group, with a F-5E (P-38 Lightning) at Debden. Taken on 23 March 1945 by Edward Richie. Information from Mark Richie: "The 65th Fighter Wing had a meeting of all Group COs at Debden about the up coming Rhine River crossing operations. Pretty neat shots. Roger [Freeman] and I puzzled over the NMF C model with the Malcolm hood. D models were in all groups by then so finding a "new" C model with and Malcolm hood is kind of odd. No serial numbers show in rear view. Possible it is a photo recon kite. Tower logs for the day do not inventory individual a/c that attended. Pretty day . . ." And "FRE 5305 also shows another two seat P-51 converted by the shops. Back seat has a Malcolm Hood. The P-38 at the end is actually an F-5E of the 7th Photo Recon Group. It would be the mount of group CO at the time. Note the red stripe on the side of the engine - identifier for the 7th PRG." Handwritten on slide:" Line of P51s E. Richie"
Roger Freeman Collection
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (20th Fighter Group) Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (VIII Fighter Command)
- Service Numbers: O-396297
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Group Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 77th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-688850
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Revisions
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources
Corrected nickname. See: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/20thfg.php?action=list_records&sort_orde…