UPL 7433
IMAGE"The Bottisham Four", four USAAF North American P-51 Mustang fighters from the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, from RAF Bottisham, Cambridgeshire (UK), in flight on 26 July 1944. The nearest aircraft is P-51D-5-NA s/n 44-13410 ("Lou IV" on the left side, the 4th aircraft named after his daughter, "Athelene" on the right side, probably the crew chief's lady friend or wife), flown by the 361st C/O Col. Thomas J.J. Christian Jr., who was killed in this plane while dive-bombing the Arras marshalling yards on 12 August 1944. The 2nd aircraft is P-51D-5-NA s/n 44-13926, already equipped with the fin-fillet, was flown by Lt Urban L "Ben" Drew. This aircraft crashed during a training flight near Stalham, Norfolk, on 9 August 1944, the pilot, 2Lt. Donald D. Dellinger, was killed. The 3rd aircraft is P-51D-5-NA s/n 44-13568 ("Sky Bouncer" later "Alice Marie") flown by Capt Bruce W. "Red" Rowlett, 375th FS operations officer. This aircraft suffered an engine failure on take-off and crashed on 3 April 1945. The furthest P-51 is P-51B-15-NA s/n 42-106811 flown by Capt Francis T Glankler (named "Suzy-G", after his wife), 375th FS "D" Flight commander. This plane was written off after a crash landing at Bottisham following a combat mission on 11 September 1944.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- 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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-812776
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14107185 / O-810498
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot and 375th FS "D" Flight commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-803469
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot and 375th FS operations officer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Suzy-G
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Lou iv / athelene
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group Headquarters (361st Fighter Group)
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Sky Bouncer, Alice Marie
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron