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Major Thorsen's "Nightshade" HL-B

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Hamsterman
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Major Thorsen's "Nightshade" HL-B

Anyone have an idea what the serial number is for this plane?  Based on two pictures, one found in Squadron's "31st FG in WWII" and the other in "In a Now Forgotten Sky"  it looks like the last three numbers are 4*8 and I'm guessing the first three numbers are 210 (since most early P-51B's had serial numbers beginning with 42-106***).    If we believe this is a P-51B, the serial number range beginning with a 2 would be 42-106429 - 42-106978.  42-106429-106738 are P-51B-10-NAs and 42-106739-106978 are P-51B-15-NAs.  With this in mind, it would make sense that the serial number of HL-B would end with 438, 449, 458, 468, 478, 488, 498.  The problem with this is that 438, 448, 458, 468 and 488 were all 8th AF P-51Bs.  478 was a RAF lend lease P-51B.  498 is the only 31st FG plane but according to the RAF 112 Squadron website honor roll, it was a 309th FS plane coded WZ-U that was shot down on 27 Jun 44.  Where did I go wrong here?  Help.  Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
Chris
 
buckeyeuk
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Re:Major Thorsen's "Nightshade" HL-B (permalink)
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Chris         I'm sure you are right that it's a B-10-NA ( Inglewood); the other photo of HL-B on p. 215 shows their style of wide spacing on the numbers---Dallas P-51Cs had only 1" gaps between them . Wonder why the numbers on the fins both sides have been deleted but remain on the rudder? possibly because it was more difficult to remove from fabric surfaces ( they had several coats of clear then aluminium dope ).
Could the last digit be "9" not 8 ?
Nick
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Re:Major Thorsen's "Nightshade" HL-B (permalink)
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it's 42-106438 - later traded in to the 4th FG 335th FS during their shuttle mission - flew to Debden, England, on 5th July 1944 with Lt. Curtis Simpson; adopted ID WD-U, lost over Switzerland on 19th July 1944 (with Simpson) due to a glycol-leak, landed at Ems-Plarenga & interned in Switzerland; flew again on 1st August 1944 with Swiss AF markings; in the following months used for extensive tests; returned to the USAAF during Fall 1945 (with USAAF markings reapplied); ferry-flown to BAD-1 Burtonwood, England, and subsequently scrapped.
 
HTH
Martin / Swiss Mustangs
 
 
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