Strana 40
P-51D-10, 44-14651, Capt Barkley Holister and Lt. John C. Donnell, 434
th
FS, 479
st
FG, 8
th
AF,
Wattisham, United Kingdom, November 1944
P-51D-10, 44-14354, Lt. Phillip D. Gossard, 435
th
FS, 479
st
FG, 8
th
AF,
Wattisham, United Kingdom, October 1944
The 479
th
Fighter Group was the last fighter
group to join the 8
th
Air Force, on May 14, 1944.
The group was known as “Riddle’s Raiders”
after its first commander, Lt. Col. Kyle L. Riddle.
Initially flying P-38 Lightning aircraft, it was re-
equipped with P-51 Mustangs in September 1944.
The inscription “Pin Up Girl”, painted in rainbow
colors on the left side of the nose, was the
work of Sgt. Fred Hayner. Hollister scored two
victories with this aircraft in August 1944. On
February 14, 1945, “Pin Up Girl” was lost, along
with pilot Lt. John Donnell, during an air battle
near Berlin. The identifying mark of the 435
th
Fighter Squadron was a red rudder.
After the 435
th
Fighter Squadron was re-
equipped from P-38 Lightning to P-51D Mustang
in mid-September 1944, the Mustang shown
with the inscription “V for VAL” was assigned
to Lt. Phillip Gossard. On December 2, 1944,
it was damaged, and when Gossard’s tour of duty
ended a few days later, “V for VAL” was retired.
The yellow rudder was the identification mark
for the 435
th
Fighter Squadron.
KITS 04/2026
INFO Eduard40
April 2026