Bomber_12th
June 5th, 2012, 08:46
In my mind, when I envision a WWII P-51D, this is the image that comes to mind - bare metal finish, shark-tail, red nose, and invasion stripes. This is an aircraft I have been wanting to make a repaint of for quite some time. This Mustang, P-51D-5-NA 44-13303 was the personal mount of Maj. James A. Goodson. Born in <st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State>, Goodson was attending the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Toronto</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> when he entered the war by enlisting as part of 416 Squadron RCAF. He was sent to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> as part of 416 Squadron, was then sent to 43 Squadron RAF, then became part of the 133 "Eagle" Squadron RAF. When 133 Eagle Squadron converted to the 336th FS, 4th FG, the Squadron continued flying Spitfires until at P-47's arrived (quite a big change!), and then later P-51's. <o:p></o:p>
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Maj. Goodson, called "Goody" by his friends and family, became one of the top scoring USAAF aces of the war. On September 20, 1944, however, Goodson had to belly this aircraft in, behind enemy lines, after he was struck by ground fire while on a strafing run. Goodson was taken prison and was a POW until the end of the war. Up until within the last year, this is the markings that the Planes of Fame Museum's P-51D was painted up as.
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For more information about Maj. Goodson, please here: http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/goodson.htm
And here is an original wartime photo of 44-13303: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=92&Temp=1337&searchString=
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson1.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson3.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson4.jpg
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson6.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson7.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson8.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson9.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson10.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
Maj. Goodson, called "Goody" by his friends and family, became one of the top scoring USAAF aces of the war. On September 20, 1944, however, Goodson had to belly this aircraft in, behind enemy lines, after he was struck by ground fire while on a strafing run. Goodson was taken prison and was a POW until the end of the war. Up until within the last year, this is the markings that the Planes of Fame Museum's P-51D was painted up as.
<o:p></o:p>
For more information about Maj. Goodson, please here: http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/goodson.htm
And here is an original wartime photo of 44-13303: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=item&origStyle=list&Item=92&Temp=1337&searchString=
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson1.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson3.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson4.jpg
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson6.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson7.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson8.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson9.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Little%20Friends%20II/goodson10.jpg