Don Blakeslee's P-51 on 2 July 1944

[keith A]

Does anyone know which aircraft this was. I know he flew a P-51B, and assume it was a Malcom-hood P51B-10-NA (on no other evidence than that this was the aircraft type he flew in May 1944).

Best regards

Keith

[HGabor]

Hi Keith,
I think he flew P-51B-15-NA, S/N: 42-106726, 'WD*C'.
Gabor

[Alex Smart]

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

[keith A]

I think I'm with Gabor on this. The silver P-51B-15-NA 2106726 was shown as his aircraft in a photo. It was probably his aircraft for some weeks. He flew 6437 for months despite it being a problem aircraft.

best regards

Keith

[Zoran Petek]

Above is P-51B-15-NA 42-106726, ex WD-C, in Italy.
Bellow are 4th FG's WD-C at right, VF-C at left. Olive drab 'S' is is blue nosed PZ-S 43-6500.

[Peter Randall]

To settle this - Blakeslee flew 42-106940 WD-C on the Shuttle mission of 21st June 1944. He flew this P-51B for the duration of Frantic II so would have been what he was flying on 2nd July. I have a better copy of the photo posted above, and WD-C can clearly be seen to be 42-106940.