This is believed to be the only sharkmouth in the 339th, but the P-51 is unknown---could be a B,C or D.
The squadron was the 505th and the pilot is Gerald Palmer; 5 others had their "mug shots" taken with it.

Jim Woolery told me "The only remembrance of that photo that I have is that they grabbed John Withers, Harry Ziegler, K O Thomas, W E "Jimmy" Howard and I. They took us out to the ready room to that P-51 and the five pictures were made and we were back in the ready room in about 15 minutes. Sorry. "
( Palmer was taken seperately ).
Slick Penrose ( 339th pilot / historian ) answered via his son      " My father is uncertain who had the sharks teeth Mustang. He does remember seeing it, and said he may have a negative of it , but that the picture probably would not show any identifying marks as to who's plane it was ". ( it didn't ).
All 6 505th pilots were assigned same time, 25 Oct. 1944 hence the group shot.

Possibly it was a "war-weary" just standing there.
Maybe someone else recognises it ? sharkmouths weren't common in the Eighth though the 361st and 352nd had several..............................Thanks  Nick

Attached Image(s)

Nice photo.Nothing I have seen.
To bad it is not a little to the left to see if the over flow pipe is there or not.The P-51B is on the left and the P-51D is on the right.
Stil good photo.
Rick

Still a mystery.  I have looked in all my reputable books--and there are probably more we could search, but the checker is 339th.  I can find nothing like it nor any mention of it.
 
Now, if it came from/was stationed at Fowlmere, England, --home of Tar Heel and Lucky Boy, maybe it was a UK plane being repainted?  Just a guess.  The teeth, though, look so much like Korean War toothed-Mustangs.
 
But I would like to see more: "the ocular proof!"
 
 
 

"Arguably, the Mustang was the best [single-engine] fighter plane that ever flew...."

Thanks chaps; Jim, it was taken at Fowlmere on or shortly after 25 Oct. 1944.
You're right the mouth is quite similar to the 12FBS in Korea.
Incidentally both Palmer and Thomas along with another pilot were killed in bad weather on 6 Feb. 1945 in S. England.
Nick

Hi all...
 
it's a P-51B or C model...
 

 
no luck on the ID, though
 
Martin

nice photo.
Thanks for posting.
Rick

Cheers Martin   I thought you might come up with something !
I don't recognise the GI but I'll send it to Steve Ananian, bet he'll know him.
Probably not a war-weary as it has wing tanks fitted ?
 
Thanks again   Nick

Martin--Peter
Steve Ananian sent a reply from the fella in the photo; this is a 504FS crew chief, William H Courtney.
This is Bill's message...

" I am nearly sure ( !! ) that the P-51 was one I crewed for Vernon Blizzard. ( by the way didn't we all call him Bob ).
According to my Bronze Star award , which was possible because Bliz very seldom aborted a mission, the airplanes were 44-14208 and 44-15499. The missions were flown between 5 Dec. 1944 and 21 April 1945 ,so I don't know wheter the plane in the photo without the D-Day paint is one of the same.
Another pilot I remember helping quite a few times was Gil Cohen. He was another pilot I was very fond of. "

(Gil just passed away ).
Obviously the Mustang is a B/C, and Bob named his planes "Punkie" ( 499 was "Punkie II " ). At least we know the squadron.

Cheers   Nick