Presentation Aircraft
 

Good morning fellow researchers:
I am trying to find out the serial number for the presentation aircraft named "City of Fennville, Michigan". There is a very nice photo of the aircraft on the front page of the 13 July 1945 issue of "The Fennville Herald". However, the left wing of the aircraft completely blocks out the serial number. The aircraft is most likely a P-51D-25NA or possibly a D-30NA clued by the 'zero length' rocket launchers under the wing. The short article with the photo does nothing to add to the aircraft's description. The only thing that might help was an apology of the editor for not getting the photo published sooner due to an overwhelming number of requests for 'presentation type military hardware' photographs. The Fennville Herald is not longer published. Any help would be appreciated as any history that I can reconstruct will be donated to the local library's history section. Yours in World War II aviation history, Ted51

Re: Presentation Aircraft
 

Did the article say where the picture was taken? Town itself has/had no airfield to welcome a P-51, I think.
I reckon that the P-51 was bought thru a war bond drive in Fennville. Perhaps the library has info about this and its outcome?

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Presentation Aircraft
 

Hello Ted,
Do you know if the USAAC or USAAF kept any record of the "presentation aircraft" bought by War bonds and/or private citizens ?
Thanks
Alex

Re: Presentation Aircraft
 

I contacted the Fennville, MI library and all they could add was that between April and May 1943, the $75,000.00 goal was exceeded.


Here is an unrelated example from the period: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterKC/p...9/?type=3&_rdr

Re: Presentation Aircraft
 

I tried to find something on the City of Fennville plane and ran across this plane, also from Michigan:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1021...ald-palladium/

What is interesting is that it can be traced and it became "Jackie" in the 350th FS, (P-51A-1-NA 43-6077)

http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/plane...lane=jackiep51

https://modelingmadness.com/review/a...aaf/rol51a.htm


It would be rare for a "presentation" plane to retain its "dedication" name.

Re: Presentation Aircraft
 

No answer, yet interesting to watch these three war bonds funded early model P-51s.
According text on criticalpast itself, film was made in the ETO in May 1944.

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtCi3xWpZlM

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Presentation Aircraft
 

The front 2 (P-51Cs) went to 364 / 357; "Maizie R" as C5-C 42-103601 and "Pride of the Yanks" as C5-Z 42-103502 with "Bat Cave" on left side. "Z" had Olive Drab added then removed from lower fuselage.
The film was received from the Signal Corps 28/6/44.
"Too Bad" in back is probably 44-13335, 355/354 later with blue-white check nose and spinner (P-51D-5) as GQ-A then S....


https://www.key.aero/article/your-hi...iation-5-day-8


Nick