339th Thury and Starnes

[digiartist]

Does anyone know what aircraft the 339th's Joseph Thury and James Starnes were flying around and just after D-Day?
Basically I'm wondering if they ever flew D model Mustangs with D-Day stripes.
The 339th was just converting from B\Cs to the D around this time so it's a bit unclear.
Just to confuse the issue littlefriends.co.uk has photos of Starnes's C and D model Mustangs wearing D-Day stripes. Both still called Tar Heel!

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Peter Randall]

The short answer is that both were flying B's.

Jim's first P-51D 44-14113 was not delivered to the Group until 5 August and Joe Thury's 44-13616 was not delivered until 26 June. D models were very few and far between in early June '44 and those that were available, invariably grabbed by the more senior officers.

Peter

[rpeck350]

Sorry to jump in but is there any photo's of Thury's P-51B?
Thanks
Rick

[digiartist]

Thank you very much Peter. I had a similar answer from Stephen C Ananian from the 339th FG association website, so that coupled with yours gives me the info I need!

cheers

Gareth

[Peter Randall]

Originally Posted by rpeck350

Sorry to jump in but is there any photo's of Thury's P-51B?
Thanks
Rick

None that I know of Rick and I don't recolect one in the back issues of the 339th Newsletter either.

Peter

[rpeck350]

Thanks Peter
Rick