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Aero Expo 2006
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North American
P-51D Mustang
The 317th FS flew its first combat mission on 19
May 1943, escorting B-26s over Decimonannu Airdrome, Sardinia. The
group scored six victories that day; and Capt. Herschel Green, then
serving as the squadron Operations Officer, scored the squadron’s
first victory by downing a Bf 109 with his P-40.
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Robert Baseler designed Checkerboard tail markings for the 325th Fighter
Group while they were stationed at Montesquieu, Algeria. The inspiration
came from Werner Voss' Fokker DR1 Triplane, which had a checkerboard
painted around the fuselage. The 325th setteled on a black and yellow
pattern painted at ninety degrees to the leading edges of the vertical
and horizontal tail surfaces. The checks were 12" square on the
P-40s and P-47s, and 10" square on the P-51s. |
