P51 Mustang - Blue Noses - 352nd FG
by Pat Speirs
Title
P51 Mustang - Blue Noses - 352nd FG
Artist
Pat Speirs
Medium
Digital Art - Digital Art Print
Description
P51 - ‘Bodney Blue Noses’
The 352nd Fighter Group was based at Bodney, Norfolk, from July 1943 and becoming operational in September of that year. Originally flying P47 aircraft the Group was deeply involved in bomber escort missions but suffered from the P47’s lack of endurance. By April 1944 the unit was re-equipped with P51s and went to achieve a remarkable degree of success - becoming known as the legendary ‘Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney‘. The Normandy landings saw an all-out effort to support the invasion and the 352nd flew 9 missions on D-day up to D+2. The image shows the 352nd out bound on one of these missions with the mix of P51 types reflecting aircraft being replaced due to combat losses - 487 FS in the foreground with a pair from 328 FS tagging along.
Uploaded
August 30th, 2013
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Comments (4)
Don Struke
Pat, your artistry is brilliant. My uncle was a B-17 tailgunner (385th BG) and I had a friend who flew two missions on D-Day as a B-17 pilot. He well might have seen 352nd "little friends" that day. This 51, of course, is quite famous because Princess Elizabeth chistened it when that name was given to it. This A/C still exists. It spent time in the Fighter Collection at Duxford until sold to a buyer in the U.S. and leaving the UK in 2007. I think it is registered N487FS and as late as 2010 was at Hobby Airport in Houston, in a hangar on the east side.
Pat Speirs replied:
Thanks Don, great to hear from you. Losing this one to the States was a pity but she did show up at Duxford this year. My regards to your uncles family - we owe tham a very great deal. Your comments very much appreciated.
Gary Eason
As usual you give us a sense of what it is like to be there, and an interesting commentary. Great complementary hues in this.
Pat Speirs replied:
Thanks Gary, been trying to get enough 'blue noses' for this for some time - eventually 'painted ' them.
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