Strana 52
P-51D-15, Flt. Off. Charles A. Lane, 99
th
FS, 332
nd
FG, 15
th
AF, Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945
P-51D-25, s/n 44-72671, 2nd Lt. William Saks, 457
th
FS, 506
th
FG, 20
th
AF,
Iwo Jima, June 1945
Charles Lane, a St. Louis, Missouri, native
started his pilot training in 1943 in Tuskegee,
Alabama. After its completion he was ordered
to 99th FS where, until the end of war, he
completed 26 missions on P-47 and P-51.
He continued in the military career after the war
and spent altogether 27 years flying fighters,
transports and even B-52 bombers. In 1970
he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He passed away in 2016. Same as the other
sister squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group,
the 99th Fighter Squadron aircraft marking
was the rear fuselage and tail surfaces painted
in eye-catching overall red which helped the
crews of the escorted bombers to recognize
their own fighters. The marking gave the unit
the nickname Red Tails.
2nd Lt. William Saks is better known among
historians for his Mustang’s decoration than
his combat achievements and enemy aircraft
kills. In the ranks of 457th Fighter Squadron he
participated in the B-29 bombers escort sorties
which were devastating Japanese islands and
in the whole 506th FG Mustang fleet raids
against the logistical centers and other military
targets in Japan. His fate was sealed on June
1, 1945, when returning to Iwo Jima he perished
together with another eleven pilots of his unit
due to bad weather. The day is therefore called
Black Friday in 506th FG records. William Saks
flew this mission with aircraft 44-72885. Tails
of the 457th FS aircraft were sprayed in green
color for better recognition during the long
range escort flights. 2nd Lt. Saks named his
aircraft Enchantress. There was a sparsely-clad
girl painted under the windshield inspired by
Albert Varga’s artwork.
KITS 02/2026
INFO Eduard52
February 2026