44-14507 Tangerine

A P-51 Mustang (C5-E, serial number 44-14507) nicknamed "Tangerine" piloted by Captain Richard A. Peterson, from Alexandria, Minnesota, pilot of the 357th Fighter Group, lands at base after a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Captn. Richard A Peterson, of Alexandria Minnesota, who shot down 15 Nazi planes makes a 3 point landing after a 5 hour escort mission into enemy territory in a Mustang' media-377201.jpg FRE 503 A P-51 Mustang (C5-E, serial number 44-14507) nicknamed "Tangerine" piloted by Captain Richard A. Peterson, from Alexandria, Minnesota, pilot of the 357th Fighter Group, lands at base after a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Capt. Richard A Peterson, of Alexandria Minnesota, who shot down 15 Nazi planes makes a 3 point landing after a 5 hour escort mission into enemy territory in a Mustang'

Capt. Peterson described this photo to me once, and though his version to me may be more accurate, there is significant evidence that he was actually flying a secret bombing escort mission using "Tangerine" instead of his usual "Hurry Home Honey" P-51. Although Pete said that "Tangerine" was a "war weary" P-51 aircraft no longer actively used in fighter escorts, but still fairly flyable, another photo from that day has surfaced and shows him coming back into Leiston in Tangerine among a four ship squadron from the 364th Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group. He originally offhandedly said pilots frequently used Tangerine just to practice flying around the Leiston base while their favorite P-51's were being worked on by ground crews, and though he recalled flying it around that day and then coming in for a landing just when a publicity photo crew happened to drop by and catch him, the handwritten note on the new photograph indicates otherwise. The handwritten caption states, "Returning from "Aphrodite" mission to Heligoland - October, 1944, C5-E Capt. Peterson; C5-P Lt. Foy; C5-R Capt. Zetterquist; C5-C Lt. Juszezyck" listing the ID letters on the planes. C5-E is the ID for "Tangerine".

Jim Anderson, son of ace Bud Anderson of the 363rd FS, talked about this mission with his father, and Bud confirmed that Pete and the others had gone on that mission to the German island of Heligoland to take out a flak battery with a remote-controlled bomber filled with explosives. They were escorting the two vulnerable bombers...the remote-controlled unit with no defense of its own and the escort bomber providing the control from a distance. Bud described it as the "Aphrodite Mission" that the 364th FS flew escort on. Jim found a related article describing the remote-controlled missions...refer to:... https://www.airforcemag.com/article/1110bombers/#.YHZRYmIQLF0.mailto

I will post the photo of the four P-51's returning from that mission to bomb Heligoland, a German island off their north coast, when I get the chance.

I'm not sure if Pete did not recall that mission when he first told me about Tangerine, or whether he'd always been told to keep that secret mission under wraps since President John F. Kennedy's older brother had been killed during one of those remote-controlled bombing missions, or perhaps they didn't want the technology revealed, or perhaps the remote-controlled effort was not as successful as they'd hoped. Pete did convey to Bud Anderson that that particular mission was a success and the resulting explosion was enormous and took out the flak battery.

It's still true that when Major Peterson wasn't flying missions, Kelly Lloyd, his crew chief, would always 'find something' that needed adjustment so that "Hurry Home Honey" would be grounded until his next mission. As far as I know, Major Peterson always flew a "Hurry Home Honey" on every combat mission. He went through a few of them. Roger Freeman Collection

This from Judd Peterson, son of Pete Peterson. I would like to upload the other photograph taken the same day of those on the "Aphrodite Mission" to bomb Heligoland, the German island in the north sea that had a troublesome flak battery against the Allies. Please advise on how to do that.

Object Number - FRE 503 - A P-51 Mustang (C5-E, serial number 44-14507) nicknamed "Tangerine" piloted by Captain Richard A. Peterson, from Alexandria, Minnesota, pilot of the...

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Major Richard A "Pete" Peterson of the 357th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '357, Richard W. Peterson.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-739334
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Operations Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 364th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: AO886919/313-18-3655/T-1900
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 10548 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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