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P-51D-5, s/n 44-13677, flown Lt. William G. Cullerton, 357th FS, 355th FG, Steeple Morden,
United Kingdom, 1944
P-51D-25, 44-73060, Col. Glenn E. Duncan, 350th FS, 353rd FG, Raydon, United Kingdom, April 1945
William Cullerton, a native of Chicago, was born
on June 2, 1923. He volunteered for the air service
on America’s entry into the war, underwent
training and flew P-51B and P-51D Mustangs with
the 357th FG. On April 8, 1945, he was hit during
an attack on the field at Ansbach and was forced
to belly-land. He was discovered by German
soldiers who shot him in the stomach and left
behind. He was found by a German farmer, who,
thinking this was a German pilot, took him to the
nearest hospital, from where the American was
able to escape. After the war, he married Elaine
Stephen and in the fifties, he formed Cullerton
Co., a maker of outdoor and fishing products.
He died on January 12, 2013. Over the course of
the Second World War, he destroyed 21 enemy
aircraft, five in the air and sixteen on the ground.
His aircraft appeared as it was delivered, with
the nose and tail painted at unit level in light
blue. The nose bore an inscription relating to his
fiancée Miss Steve.
Glenn Emile Duncan was born on May 12, 1918, in
Bering, Texas. He enlisted in the aviation Cadet
Program of the USAAF on February 9, 1940,
and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
and awarded pilot wings on October 5, 1940.
He served as instructor pilot prior and in Panama
prior to conversion to P-47 and his assignment to
361st FG and successively to 353rd FG in England.
He scored his first victory on September 23, 1943
and was promoted to the rank of Full Colonel in
November 1944. He became the ace on December
20 that year when he destroyed a Fw 190 over
Rastede. By June 7, 1944, he had accumulated
15,5 kills but a month later he was hit by AA fire
and forced to belly-land near Nienburg, Germany.
Duncan escaped captivity and joined the Dutch
resistance for the time to liberation by Allies.
He then rejoined the 353rd FG, now flying P-51s,
and served as its CO from April 22 until October
1945. During WW II, Duncan destroyed 19.5 enemy
aircraft in aerial combat plus one probable
and seven damaged. This made him the most
successful ace of 353rd FG. He recorded all his
victories with P-47. His P-51D was named “Dove
of Peace” like all his P-47s. The name came after
the original “Winged Death” did not meet the
understanding of the higher brass and Duncan
renamed his aircraft sarcastically. The Mustang
was number VIII of this name. After the war he
became White House Liaison Officer, later he held
several commanding posts in Japan and USA and
retired on February 1, 1970. Glenn Duncan passed
away on July 14, 1998.
KITS 08/2024
INFO Eduard40
August 2024