Louis Morrison P51 on 9 Aug. 1944 in North Brittany

[gilles collaveri]

Good morning all,

On 9 August 1944, Louis Morrison (380 FTR, based in Cherbourg) straffed a German convoy near Plouigneau (North Brittanny) and he was shot down. He bailed out safely and was hidden by French farmers. His P51 crashed close to Plouigneau.

I am looking for information on this very P51: serial number, marks, type etc..

He had previoulsy scored a victory on 30 may 1944 (while with 352 FTR) on his P51 "The duchess Toni Girl", number AO 007732314.

It is quite likely that this P51 was the same that was shot down on 9 Aug. 1944 but I search confirmation;

Thanks a lot as usual,

GC

[Frank Olynyk]

Giles,
Capt. Louis Duke Morrison's Army Service Number was O732314 (the AO was a post war change to ASNs). There does not appear to be a MACR for him on Aug 9, 1944. On May 30, 1944 he was flying with the 382nd FS of the 363rd FG, 9th Air Force; when shot down he was with the 380th FS, also of the 363rd FG. The aircraft serial number does not appear on his combat report of May 30.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[gilles collaveri]

Thank you for such QUICK an answer, Frank !

Gilles

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
He returned to his unit as his signature is found on MACR's dated 5th, 19th and 29th July 44.
So for him there would not have been an MACR as he must have come down in a friendly area in May.
Alex

[rpeck350]

Louis Morrison was in the 382 FS but went to the 380 FS on 7-1-44 as CO .
In the 380 FS his P-51D was A9-R 413605.
On 8-9-44 he was hit by flak and bailed out near US ground troops.So no MACR.
8-9-44 he was flying 413309 A9-A "Fool's Paradise IV" which was Maj. McCall's plane.
If you do google search you can find a photo of A9-A.
All this from Kent Miller's book on the 363rd FG book printed by Schiffer.
Rick

[gilles collaveri]

thanks Rick and Alex.

We may dig out some parts of this P51 this summer.

Best regards from France

GC

[gilles collaveri]

Good morning all,

I come back on this P51, which was Major Evan Mc call's one, and which is famous also because it was the Airfix 1/72 P51 first mustang model they proposed.

Has anybody some more info on this aircraft:

- why was Louis Morrison flying Mc Call aircraft this day ?
-Major Mc Call has a son, I believe, who is living in the US: do you know where and how I could contact him ?
- I have found some pictures of "A9 A" on the web: if somebody has some ideas to have more pictures ?

thanks as usual, and best regards.

GC