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Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa (Oscar). Late Version1867 viewsThe Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa (Oscar) had an upgraded Ha 115 engine and refined airframe. The Imperial Japanese Army continued to rely on the Ki-43-II as its main fighter type up until the end of the war because of its efficency and simple maintenance requirements.
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P-51-15-NA, serial number 415271, OC-E, Starduster724 viewsP-51D-15, OC-E, serial number 44-15271 was assigned to pilot Lt. Col. William Kennedy of the 359th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group. It was lost on February 25, 1945 with Maj. Richard A. Rann the pilot. He became a POW.
The aircraft was named Starduster. It was one of the most colorful of all the ETO Mustangs during 1944/45. It was unique as well as colorful because of the reverse set of "D-Day bands" which covered the lower fuselage.
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F-84G Thunderjet, FS-229714 viewsThis F-84G 51-1226 was flown by Major Don Gravenstive, CO of the 492nd Bomber Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, USAFE, Chaumont, France, 1952
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USAAF Spitfire Mk. IX c.682 viewsThis Spitfire was assigned to Lt. Col. E. P. Allen, 9th Tactical Air Command in England in 1944.
Allen traded in his P-51D Mustang to the British in France during 1944 for this Spitfire Mk. IXc.
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P-51K PE-L, Flying Ginny642 viewsP-51K, PE-L, serial number 412411, was assigned to Lt. Emery Taylor of the 352nd Fighter Group.
The P-51K was named Flying Ginny after his sweetheart and soon to be wife from Austin, TX.
Lt. Taylor had this aircraft assigned to him after returning from being shot down in another Mustang over France.
He had been on an escort mission to Germany when his aircraft developed engine trouble. As he was returning to England, he was attacked by two German ME-109 fighters. Taylor tried to hide from them in clouds, but they flushed him out. He dove his Mustang to the deck and tried to fly so low that the ME-109s could not get a clean shot at him. Unfortunately, Lt. Taylor hit a man on a bicycle while evading the enemy aircraft. This resulted in severe wing damage which forced Taylor to gain altitude so that he could bail out. The ME-109s then finished off his aircraft. Taylor rushed his exit from the stricken P-51K and was hit by the tail of the aircraft. His parachute opened barely in time for him to survive bailing out. The injured Taylor evaded capture and walked back to Allied lines. His Texas accent convinced Allied soldiers that he wasn't a spy as he passed into their lines. He now resides in Austin, TX.
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P-47D Razorback637 viewsUnmarked P-47D Razorback in a natural metal finish as it would have appeared as a new aircraft at Republic Aircraft.
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P-51B-10-NA, VF-P, Reggie's Reply595 viewsThis was the assigned aircraft of Capt. John T. Godfrey, 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group in April 1944.
This new aircraft was presented to him on his return from leave. Twenty black swastikas under the cockpit showed Godfrey's tally at the time. The aircraft was named after Godrey's brother Reggie who was lost in the Atlantic when his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine, hence Reggie's Reply.
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P-47D-25-RE591 viewsThis P-47D-25-RE was assigned to pilot Major Hal G. Shook of the 506th Fighter Squadron, 404th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force in October 1944.
The invasion stripes on this aircraft have been overpainted with olive drab on the upper surfaces. Also of note, this is the only armed and operational P-47D seen without landing gear covers on the main wheels.
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P-47D-23-RA, CP-D580 viewsP-47D-23-RA, serial number 42-76433, CP-D is the first aircraft of the 367th Fighter Squadron, 358th Fighter Group, 100th Fighter Wing, 9th Air Force.
It was assigned to the unit just before D-Day, June 1944. It has full invasion stripes, yet it does not have the red cowl typical of this units aircraft.The side mounted rear view mirrors are visible on this aircraft.
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P-47M Thunderbolt571 viewsP-47M, serial number 4-21116, HV-J was in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Boxted England 1945.
It was assigned to pilot Lt. Russell S. Kyler, and it was named 'Lorene' after the pilot's sweetheart.
Russell Kyler currently lives south of Austin, Tx. He has been to King's Hobby and visited with their staff.
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P-51B QP-L566 viewsP-51B, serial number 2106924, QP-L was assigned to pilot Lt. Ralph "Kidd" Hofer, 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, Debden, England in February 1944. It was named "Salem Representative". Lt. Hofer was born in Salem, Missouri.
Lt. Hofer was credited with 15 aerial victories and 14 strafing which gave him 29 confirmed victories. He was KIA on July 2, 1944 on a bomber escort in Hungary.
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P-51D CL-M "Katydid"563 viewsP-51D, serial number 414223, was assigned to Lt. Col. Elwyn Righetti, 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
Righetti was the top straffer ace who had 27 aircraft destroyed on the ground as well as 7.5 in the air.
RiP-51D CL-M "Katydid" was one the most weathered aircraft one will see photographs of. The spinner stripes were even crooked. This model represents the aircraft in December 1944.
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