162nd TRS F-6D Serial 44-14??? IX * P (or B, R)

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I am trying to ID a F-6D of the 162nd TRS with serial number 44-14??? and code IX * P (or B, R). The name on the cowling may have been "Mary" or something similar. I have a photo that only shows part of the name, code, and serial number.

Thanks,
Roger

[KM1957]

Could you post the photo? That may help me at least when going thru my files.

Kent

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Kent,

The photo is part of a series of photos that I will publish in a forthcoming book and therefore I prefer not to share the photo. The main subject are German planes, but I was wondering about the history of the P-51. I don't think you would gather more information than I shared that would help identify the plane. The rudder is missing and therefore not the whole serial is visible. Part of the fuselage code is hidden by people standing in front of it.

[junkman3353]

I'm a little late to the discussion but I think you're unduly restricting the kind of help you're asking for. You claim to have a single photo of an aircraft that is not the subject of your book. I don't think you'll find providing that bit of info will handicap the subject. A lot can be found just by collecting bits of info. I've constructed the appearance of many aircraft by gathering a photo of a tail here, a bit of nose art there, some educated guessing from someplace else. I wish you luck in your search but it will be unlikely to succeed with just a sliver of info.

[Alex Smart]

Could be one of these -

44-14005
44-14036
44-14073

Some pilots names
Robert A, Perry
Earston H, Cash
Leo F, Skenyon
Bobby W, Killough

[KM1957]

Not knowing the time of the photo (mid or late 1944, early 1945, ???), it makes it hard to just present serial numbers. 44-14036 was lost November 25, 1944 and three of the other serials (44-14059, 44-14340 and 44-14408) were lost March 23, 1945, November 26, 1944 and February 24, 1945 respectively. However, the last three planes were all 161st Tac Recon Squadron, not the 162nd, so I doubt they are contenders for the unidentified 44-14??? ship.

Kent

[Alex Smart]

Hello Kent,
Thank you I overlooked the sqdn as I looked up the Group. You are quite right "340","408", and "045" were 161 Sqdn aircraft. I have deleted them.

[edwest2]

44-14073 was "G.I. Buzz Buggy."

[Roger Gaemperle]

Thank you all for your information. The photo was taken around mid June 1945 and the aircraft therefore survived the war. I found information that two of the 3 remaining serials were lost

44-14005
44-14036 --> crashed in Nov 44 according to http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=27099
44-14073 --> mid-air collision in Jun 45 according to https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/22156

Are there any photos published in books that show 44-14005?

[Peter Randall]

44-14005 suffered a Cat 5 landing accident on 20th October 1944 and was salvaged on 26th.
44-14073 was with the 364th FG and was coded N2-Abar.