Captured P-51C T9+CK

[kaki3152]

Just received my copy of "Luftwaffe in Focus-Spezial 2" and found some fascinating information. The elusive silver P-51B T9+CK with a fin strake that was first seen in the book "The Luftwaffe: A Photographic Memory" by Karl Ries is finally identified as 42-103458 of the 318th Fighter Squadron,325th Fighter Group. This plane was one of four P-51s of the 318th FS who were detailed to escort a F-5E of the 32nd Suqadron, 5th PRG on December 9th,1944. All failed to return,due to adverse weather conditions.
Two of the P-51s, the P-51D 44-15174 flown by Lt. Norval Weers and the P-51B 42-103458 flown by Lt. Thomas Todd landed in a field in Austria,near the Hungarian border. While Lt. Weers crash landed his plane (wheels up), Lt. Todd who was the element leader landed wheels down.
I had some correspondence with Norval Weers in 1995 and in one of his letters he wrote: "Lt. Todd did indeed land with his wheels down. It has been a long time,but I am reasonably sure he made the statement he was planning to land and pick me up and fly back to base." Strange, considering he probably had insufficient gas to return to base.

The two P-51s were retrieved by 2/OKL-Versuchs Verband. The P-51D flown by Lt. Weers was 35% damaged,and was only used for parts. The P-51B was assigned to 2/OKL-Versuchs Verband AKA Zirkus Rosarius.

One flaw in the article is that the date is incorrect. The author Alex Urbanke places the loss of 42-103458 on September 12,1944. BTW, there is a picture of this P-51B while in 325th FG service in the book "Aces Pliots and Aircraft of the 9th ,12th and 15th USAAF" by David weatherill.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Nice to know this. Maybe confirmation at last.

This and other info on the captured P51's was in the Captured American threads on the old LEMB back in 2002.

Some bits I saved
9/12/44:42-103458 "A54" "My Lady/ Miss Marilyn" of the 325th FG, 318th FS Pilot : Capt Thomas Todd. This was Henry Longs usual a/c.
9/12/44;42-103581 "61" "Mary Norris" of the 325th Fg 318th FS Pilot Lt. P. Sangermano.DOW.
9/12/44: 42-103911 "51" "Marjie II" of the 325th FG 318th FS Pilot Lt. Brownell.
9/12/44: 42-103455 "49" "Tennessee's Partner" of the 325th FTG 318th FS Pilot Capt. George F Campbell this was John Gaston's usual a/c.
9/12/44: 44-15174 "40" 325th Fg 318th FS Pilot Lt. Norval Weers. This was the usual a/c of James V. Toner.
This a/c was rebuilt useing parts from P51D 44-13412 "Reggies Reply" "VF-F" crashed 24/8/44 pilot Capt John T. Godfrey and parts from P51B 43-12147 "CS-W" of the 359th FG 370th FS crashed 21/7/44 pilot Lt. Robert W. Sitaamaki.

Sadly I think this info was lost from the LEMB site following an incident.

Brownell baled, Campbell was never seen again.

Alex

[kormoran]

Hello,

which date is right?

9/12/1944 or 12/9/1944? Are the dates mixed up?

Kind regards,
Günter.

[kaki3152]

THe Plane was lost on December 9th,1944.

Americans write Month first-day-year,e.g. 12-9-44 for December 9th,1944
Europeans write 9-12-44, day-month-year.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

As a follow up on the 9th December 325th FG losses.

42-103410 "45" was lost, MACR 10588, Pilot ?
44-13470 "28" was lost with Ralph Mochak MACR 10364
44-11234 "Shimy IV" reported lost with Weers MACR ?

Also re Campbell's name. I have seen somewhere that he is said to have been David D. Campbell.

Any further on a/c or name's welcome.

Alex