And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Sunday, November 19, 2023
P-51D ‘My Girl’ takes off from Iwo Jima on a B-29 escort mission, 1945. One of the most bad ass pictures ever taken.
There were two sizes of drop tanks available, the aluminium ones carried 75US gallons while the disposable paper mache ones carried 110 US gallons. Internal fuel capacity was 269 gallons so the drop tanks increased it to either 419 or 489 gallons. The drop tanks in the picture are aluminium, the paper mache ones didn't have a flange. Al_in_Ottawa
My grandfather owned and flew a P-51. As a 7-8 year old I rode with him from Orange County Airport (John Wayne) to Albuquerque to Tulsa. That's been 65 years ago and I still remember the ringing in my ears that followed (my head was much too small for the helmet provided as I recall). Still, an exciting ride I will always remember.
My wife's aunt used to make P-51s in WW2. My Dad's brother was on a B-29 during the first fire bombing of Tokyo - didn't make it back. Different breed back then.
Mustang!!
ReplyDeleteWith what, fifty gallons of external fuel? Not too many enemy aircraft left as targets.
ReplyDeleteThere were two sizes of drop tanks available, the aluminium ones carried 75US gallons while the disposable paper mache ones carried 110 US gallons. Internal fuel capacity was 269 gallons so the drop tanks increased it to either 419 or 489 gallons. The drop tanks in the picture are aluminium, the paper mache ones didn't have a flange.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
A "Bad Assed" picture? Maybe, but there are zillions of just as "bad assed" war photos taken over time. I'm just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteYou should have just said you were wrong by 100 gal. and left it at that. Some peoples kids….
DeleteThere are apparently two John's (at least). I'm the one that made the wild ass guess on the drop tank. And I meant fifty gal. each. Still off.
DeleteMy grandfather owned and flew a P-51. As a 7-8 year old I rode with him from Orange County Airport (John Wayne) to Albuquerque to Tulsa. That's been 65 years ago and I still remember the ringing in my ears that followed (my head was much too small for the helmet provided as I recall). Still, an exciting ride I will always remember.
ReplyDelete$2,200 for half an hour in a P-51 was purdier than a twenty dollar whore
DeleteMy wife's aunt used to make P-51s in WW2. My Dad's brother was on a B-29 during the first fire bombing of Tokyo - didn't make it back. Different breed back then.
ReplyDelete