American Air Museum in Britain

IWM catalogue record

This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.

Staff Sergeant William Accoo of the 15th Air Force cleans a P-51 Mustang. Printed caption on reverse is damage: 'BIPPA, EA 35888. U.S. Mustang Flyers At Italian Base. Staff Sergeant William Accoo of Salen[sic], New Jersey, crew chief in a Negro group of the 15th U.S. Air Force, washes down the PP-51 Mustang fighter plane of his pilot with soap and water... to give it more speed. Mediterranean... Forces Photo PRO-HQ-44-2384. Serviced... London OWI (Inner... Certified... Passed by SHAEF Censor....' Printed caption also attached to reverse: '(CCU Photo). Competition is great among individual crew chiefs of the all Negro P-51 Mustang Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force in Italy, and it's never more evident than in this picture which shows S/Sgt. Wm. Accoo, 358 Keasby St., Salem, N.J., washing his plane down with soap and water. After this he will wax it.' On reverse: Mediterranean Allied Air Forces Photo and Crown Copyright [Stamps].

Connections