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Re: Don Blakeslee's P-51 on 2 July 1944
Hi,
Not sure that 726 was the one.
From "The War Lords" vol 1 by Barry & Ann Money.
42-106726 /WD-C was reallocated as WD-S ( Lt.John Goodwyn) from August '44.
And that Blakeslee was allocated 44-13779 WD-C from the beginning of July '44.
However, from the "Debden Eagles" by Garry L,FRY the photo of '779 has in the caption "Col.Blakeslee in his P-51D, received by the Group on 8th July .By mid July the invasion stripes had been removed from all top surfaces on the Fighter's.
Also from the late Frank Olynyk's "Stars & Bars" , Frank lists on page 148 that 1944 April 5th Blakeslee flew 43-6437 (P-51B-5 WD-C). Thereafter he gives P-51B "WD-C" but only P-51B for July 2nd's Me109 over Budapest.
So maybe it was 43-6437 WD-C which became WD-V lost 7/8th August '44, Lt. Sydney V, Wadsworth becoming a POW.
Alex
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