44-13410 | American Air Museum

Nicknames: Lou iv / athelene
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Production block number: P-51D-5-NA Mustang
Manufacturer: North American
Markings & paint scheme: Colonel Thomas J J Christian’s personal mount was an early P-51D-5-NA, serial number 44-13410, Code E2-C, with “LOU IV” painted on the port side of the engine cowling, forward of the cockpit and just rearward of the exhaust manifolds. The name “ATHELENE” was painted on the starboard side of the fuselage forward of the cockpit and below the exhaust manifolds. LOU IV was the most photographed P-51 Mustang of World War 2. LOU IV was an early P-51 D-5-NA (with the “bubble” canopy) without the stabilizing tail ﬁn addition of the later definitive –D models. Additional photographs better indicate LOU IV’s colors and markings, including a yellow propeller spinner, a yellow engine cowling, a bare metal fuselage with a mottled camouflage pattern of dark green and /or black on the top surfaces, and “invasion stripes” beneath the fuselage roundel and on the bottom of the wings.

44-13410 Lou iv / athelene

P-51 Mustangs (E2-C, serial number 44-13410) nicknamed "Lou IV (Athelene)", (E2-A, serial number 44-13568) nicknamed "Sky Bouncer", (E2-S, serial number 44-13926) and (E2-H, serial number 42-106811) nicknamed "Suzie G" of the 361st Fighter Group fly in formation above the clouds.

media-377245.jpg FRE 527 P-51 Mustangs (E2-C, serial number 44-13410) nicknamed "Lou IV (Athelene)", (E2-A, serial number 44-13568) nicknamed "Sky Bouncer", (E2-S, serial number 44-13926) and (E2-H, serial number 42-106811) nicknamed "Suzie G" of the 361st Fighter Group fly in formation above the clouds. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 527 - P-51 Mustangs (E2-C, serial number 44-13410) nicknamed "Lou IV (Athelene)", (E2-A, serial number 44-13568) nicknamed "Sky Bouncer", (E2-S, serial...

one of the plane of the famous photograph serie "The Bottisham Four" - 26/27 july 1944

Connections

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Units served with

361st Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Headquarters (361st Fighter Group)

Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
Air Force: Eighth Air Force

People

Peter Joseph Army

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: 31081078
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Crew chief

Leo A Bazman

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 827th Engineer Aviation Battalion
Service Numbers: 36569029
Highest Rank: Corporal
Role/Job: Machinist

Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (361st Fighter Group)
Service Numbers: O-21782
Highest Rank: Colonel
Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer 361st

Places

Bottisham

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR)	Boisleux-au-Mont, France	12 August 1944 - 12 August 1944	Crashed on 12 august 1944 after a dive bombing on Arras Marshalling yards in Boisleux-au-Mont (France)

Event

Location

Date

Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Boisleux-au-Mont, France

12 August 1944 - 12 August 1944

Crashed on 12 august 1944 after a dive bombing on Arras Marshalling yards in Boisleux-au-Mont (France)