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KyleM

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Iowa Belle - 05/13/2008 09:55:08 AM
Does anyone have any pictures of my grandfather, 1LT C.W. Mahannah, and/or his aircraft, the 'Iowa Belle' P-51B', that they could share with me?
 
Thank you!
Kyle L. Mahannah
Captain, Armor
United States Army

Grandson of:
1LT C.W. Mahannah
75th FS, 23rd FG
KyleM

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/14/2008 07:30:19 AM
For the sake of it, here are 4 pics that I have.






 

<message edited by KyleM on 05/14/2008 07:34:35 AM >
Kyle L. Mahannah
Captain, Armor
United States Army

Grandson of:
1LT C.W. Mahannah
75th FS, 23rd FG
swissmustangs

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/15/2008 03:08:08 AM
Hi

his assigned aircraft was P-51C-11-NT 44-10799 - 23rd FG 75th FS - the a/c was salvaged 11th December 1944
 
the first photo of a "P-40" is quite interesting - it shows a dummy / decoy aircraft to attract enemy fire in case of an air-attack.

Martin

<message edited by swissmustangs on 05/15/2008 03:09:58 AM >
KyleM

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/15/2008 08:57:09 AM
At some point, this was the scheme for his aircraft.  This is actually a bamboo model of his P-51 that a local man made for him.  It is mounted on a still-live .50 cal round.  I wonder if this aircraft would have the same serial number.
 

Kyle L. Mahannah
Captain, Armor
United States Army

Grandson of:
1LT C.W. Mahannah
75th FS, 23rd FG
buckeyeuk

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/15/2008 02:56:36 PM
Martin        I wonder if the model is a different P-51....the "BELLE" is not the same (assuming the Chinese modeller saw the aircraft )  and the other photos I've seen of this plane had the 75th black tail ?
----600 series numbers (apart from McComas' no. 600 in the 118th. ) were assigned to P-40s in the  CACW; the 75th had 150-199 on the tails, then 40-80 on the lower noses in 1945...
Maybe this squadron used 600 + numbers for a short time but they don't seem to have been recorded. It would be interesting to find a photo if so.
Nick
swissmustangs

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/16/2008 02:34:43 AM
Nick
 
the markings you refer to were basically introduced in 1945 (exact time-frame I have to check) - black noses for 76th FS, Indian head on tail of 74th FS planes, black tails for 75th FS planes, and black lightning for 118th TRS (introduced in 1944 for this unit)
 
earlier markings are barely recorded and photos are elusive, but I will check my files......
 
Martin
buckeyeuk

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/16/2008 06:19:54 AM
Thanks Martin..........it seems to me that the 100-series numbers were usually on P-51B/Cs black tails, and the 2-digit numbers on later D/Ks noses. But then Ed Bollen's P-51C had "78" on the nose. No doubt there was a mix of markings as often seen with other groups. 
"Iowa Belle" had a black tail at one time but as you say was salvaged in 1944.........................   Nick               
KyleM

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RE: Iowa Belle - 05/16/2008 07:24:49 AM
Are there any reasons listed for the salvaging in your sources?
Kyle L. Mahannah
Captain, Armor
United States Army

Grandson of:
1LT C.W. Mahannah
75th FS, 23rd FG

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