MARKING OPTIONS
P-51D-5, 44-13317, Capt. Donald R. Emerson, 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF, Debden,
United Kingdom, September 1944
4th FG was nicknamed Debden Eagles thanks to its home base and origins because it was formed from RAF Eagle
squadron (71st, 121st and 133rd squadrons). After the incorporation into 8th AF the squadrons were re-named to
334th FS, 335th FS and 336th FS. Their Spitfires were replaced by P-47s as of April 1st, 1943 and in February 1944
these were replaced by P-51 aircraft. Donald Emerson joined the ranks of 4th Fighter Group on March 9th, 1944 and
during the following eight months of duty he flew 89 sorties during which he was credited with 4.5 enemy aircraft shot
down. On December 25th, 1944 he perished returning from the bomber escort mission when he spotted six Bf 109s.
During the ensuing combat he descended close to the terrain and was hit by the anti-aircraft fire over the front. Pilot
was probably killed and his aircraft crashed nearby the town of Sittard in The Netherlands. However he had managed
to shot down two of his opponents. Capt. Emerson had the fuselage port side of his Mustang decorated with boxing
Donald Duck in resemblance to his first name.
There are seven kill markings painted under the windshield. From the beginning of September the invasion stripes on
the upper wings and fuselage sides surfaces of the allied aircraft weere deleted and left on the lower surfaces only.
P-51D-5, 44-13837, Lt. Richard Ozinga, 343rd FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford,
United Kingdom, September 1944
55th Fighter Group history starts in January 1941 by establishing 55th Pursuit Group at Hamilton airbase
in California. In May 1943 it was re-named to 55th FG, started training on P-43 aircraft and finished it
on P-38. On October 15th, 1943 having been transferred to Great Britain the unit was declared combat-ready on P-38H. In July 1944 it was re-equipped with P-51D flying mostly four engine bombers‘ escorts
till the end of war. On August 20th, 1946 the unit was disbanded.
Richard Ozinga was assigned to 343rd FS after he completed his pilot training on August 2nd, 1944 and
flew with this unit until the end of World War Two. Besides him also 2nd Lt. Kenneth J. Mix and Lt. Robert
E. Welch logged several flights in this aircraft. Richard Ozinga passed away on April 8th, 1994.
55th Fighter Group aircraft noses received green-yellow checkerboards for better mid-air recognition.
The same colors appeared on the propeller spinners. Typical for this unit was the coloration of its Mustangs
fuselages when the olive drab antiglare panel was extended to the rear fuselage. Yellow rudder was the
343rd FS recognition marking. Richard Ozinga named his aircraft by his girlfriend and later wife Marilyn.
INFO Eduard - February 2020
eduard
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