Strana 51
P-51D-5, s/n 44-13535, Lt. Edward F. Pogue, 79
th
FS, 20
th
FG, 8
th
AF,
Kings Cliffe, United Kingdom, 1945
P-51D-10, s/n 44-14450, Capt. Clarence E. Anderson, 363
rd
FS, 357
th
FG, 8
th
AF,
Leiston, United Kingdom, October 1944
This Mustang was flown by Lt. E. F. “Pogie” Pogue
at the end of 1944, it already had a long and
rich service career that saw a list of 20th FG
pilots in its cockpit. The aircraft carried names
like Black’s Bird and Wilma, but it was under
the name of “Chattanooga Choo Choo” that the
airplane made its mark, a name taken from
the popular song made famous by Glenn Miller.
As the names of the plane changed, so did its
appearance. The original 20th FG markings
consisting of black and white stripes on the nose
behind the spinner were later supplemented
by vertical black and white bands, the 20th
Fighter Group identifier. The black square on
the tail indicated service with the 79th Fighter
Squadron. Later on, the serial number of the
aircraft also made a return on the fin and rudder.
The illustration here captures the look of the
aircraft as it appeared in the spring of 1945, by
then carrying the name Chattanooga Choo Choo.
The application of the invasion stripes also went
through an evolution. By this time, the invasion
stripes had been removed, and so were the ETO
quick identification markings, the remnants
of which are only visible on the main gear
covers. The underlined individual aircraft letter
indicated that, at the time, there was already an
airframe coded MC
-
R flying. During this period,
it was flown almost exclusively by Lt. Pogue
and according to available sources, was used
in achieving all of his six destroyed enemies.
After the end of the Second World War, Lt. Pogue
piloted F-80s in Japan and later flew F-84s
during the Korean War. He ended his career as
a Lt. Colonel. For his outstanding service, he
received nine Air Medals and two DFCs, among
others.
“Bud” Anderson was born on January 13, 1922, in
Oakland, California. In January 1942 he joined
the Army and till September 28, 1942, served as
an Air Cadet. In November 1943 he was assigned
to the 363rd FS, 357th FG. He finished his first
tour of duty in June 1944 and returned to the
United States for two months. In September 1944
he returned to his original unit. In the beginning
of December 1944, he was promoted to Major
and in January 1945 finished his second tour of
duty. In total he flew 116 combat missions and
logged 1423 flight hours. His final score was
17 confirmed aerial victories. After the war he
mostly flew as a test pilot, and he retired from
the Air Force on March 31, 1972. The Mustang
flown by Clarence “Bud” Anderson during his
second tour was initially camouflaged on all
upper surfaces, including the landing flaps
interiors, in dark green paint, probably RAF
Dark Green. The lower surfaces were painted in
Medium Sea Grey. In the end of 1944 Bud had
the camouflage paint removed from his Mustang
and flew it in the natural metal finish. “Bud”
Anderson named his new Mustang the same as
the previous ones, Old Crow and shot down four
more German aircraft while flying it. After he
finished his second tour of duty, his Old Crow
was handed over to Lt. James Taylor from the
363rd FS and renamed Pretty Pix. After the war
the aircraft was transferred to Neubiberg air
base in Germany where it ended up as scrap
metal.
KITS 02/2026
INFO Eduard
51
February 2026