FRE 5516

IMAGE

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A P-51 Mustang aircraft serial number 44-13923 nicknamed "Big Beautiful Doll", flown by Major John D. Landers of the 55th Fighter Group where it was coded CG-O of the 38th Fighter Squadron. Landers took this P-51 with him when he went to the 357th FG where it was recoded to B6-O of the 363rd Fighter Squadron. Handwritten on slide: "CG:O 413823? 5/8/44 John Landers a/c 2-28 Sand" The question mark in the handwritten note is there because 413823 is incorrect.

Connections

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Units

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-431968
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
A pipe-smoking member of ground crew of the 55th Fighter Group, wearing an apron for carrying hand tools. Handwritten on slide:"1-32"
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39171056
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Airplane Propeller Specialist

Aircraft

A P-51 Mustang aircraft nicknamed "Big Beautiful Doll", flown by Major John D. Landers of the 78th Fighter Group. Handwritten on slide:"CG:O 413823? 5/8/44 John Landers a/c 2-28 Sand"
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron

Locations

Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Revisions

Date:
ContributorPyker
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

Corrected unit from 78th FG to 55th FG. This photo is of the first "Big Beautiful Doll" and as no association with Duxford.

Date:
ContributorPyker
ChangesChanges to unit associations
Sources

Corrected Group association.

Date:
Contributorjrugman
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

Listed above in caption as 'Big Beautiful Doll'. ID number and pilot match.

Date:
ContributorPyker
ChangesChanges to caption, place associations and aircraft associations
Sources

Revised caption and removed reference to 44-72218 as that was his second P-51 and served in different units.

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection