[aaatripp]

After some research I believe that I have some additional information, Renee, regarding your father's aircraft. Since you already have Steve Blake's book on the 354FG much of it can be found in the back reference areas.

1. The 1st a/c assigned to your father appears to be P-51B-5 #43-6378 coded FT-S, which was known as MISFORTUNE II. Edy got 4 1/2 of his aerial victories in this a/c before it was damaged on 4/30/44, only six days after your dad got his 6 1/2th kill. The a/c was repaired & recoded for other use.

2. Edy's next a/c was #42-106597 FT-S which is widely known under the double names JEANNE MIO/READY EDY (painted by Alfred Borst). He got his last kill in this a/c on May 28th to bring his official total to 7 1/2 confirmed enemy a/c destroyed.

Some records also show this a/c to be known as SMOLDERING BOULDER. I can't tell if this was a prior name before it was assigned to your dad, or a name associated with its assignment to Robert Reynolds after your dad left the Sqdn to go on leave back to the States. This a/c was later lost in action on Sept. 9, 1944....but only after Reynolds succeeded in getting 3 FW-190 confirmed kills with it on that same day!

3. Edy's 1st & 3rd kills were in Ed Regis' RIGOR MORTIS (FT-V) and Bud Emmer's PEACEFUL PENGUIN (FT-G) respectively. The other 5 1/2 aerial victories were in his own assigned a/c.

4. Your dad's last assigned a/c appears to be P-51D-5 #44-13559 FT-U READY EDY. It was a newer a/c and was the one Edy was piloting when he was lost on Nov. 8, 1944. (Blake's book has this a/c coded as FT-U; perhaps this is an error, or someone already had FT-S when Edy returned).

Your dad's last claim was a ME-410 damaged on Oct. 21st, but that was in
a different a/c, FT-pi.

Hope that this helps more with your search!

Best wishes,
Tripp