This photo is the companion photo to the last Photo(s) of the Week I posted recently; just taken from the right side of the plane. Ground crew have just hoisted the Packard built Rolls Royce Merlin engine after disconnecting it from the engine mounting framework and other connections. Very cool photo!
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
This is 172, a 47th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, P-51D Mustang. 7th Fighter Command ground crew worked under very challenging conditions. Just keeping the engine and machine guns clear of sand and the volcanic grit was a constant battle.
The official USAAF caption to this photo reads: Mechanics removing engine from a North American P-51 “Mustang”. Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands.
A 47th Fighter Squadron P-51D Mustang, number 172, receives either engine maintenance or an engine replacement in an outdoor setting on Iwo Jima with another Mustang coming in for a landing in the background. This looks as if this may be a major periodic overall maintenance as engine work being done, the wing root fairing is removed, the machine guns are removed, the canopy is removed, and it appears that work is being done on the radiator as well.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
Early on, all maintenance and repairs were done outdoors. The construction of maintenance hangers would come later. The single antenna on this Mustang indicates that this maintenance was done shortly after 47th Fighter Squadron arrived on Iwo Jima as the twin Uncle Dog antennae have yet to be installed.
Please also note that the right tire has an oval tread pattern and the left tire has a diamond tread pattern. Different tread patterns were a fairly common occurrence, so important to check your photo references.
The official USAAF caption to this photo reads: A mobile repair unit of a 7th Fighter Command Service Group repairs a North American P-51 damaged in a landing on the rugged Iwo Jima airstrip. Soft spots, cross winds and roving clouds of volcanic dust make landings on Iwo Jima unusually hazardous. In the background another P-51 fighter comes in for a landing.
An armorer cleans the blast tubes on a 47th Fighter Squadron P-51D Mustang while other maintenance is being performed. The official United States Army Air Force caption to this photo reads: Armorers cleaning 50 cal machine guns on wing of North American P-51 “Mustang”. Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands.
The sand and volcanic grit was a constant problem for ground crew on Iwo Jima. With their pilots spending a majority of a very long mission over the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, 7th Fighter Command ground crew spent long hours maintaining their Mustangs to prevent a pilot from having to bail out over water due to engine failure. This post is dedicated to all the ground crewmen who served on Iwo Jima.
Today, November 11th, is the federal holiday in the United States to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
78th Fighter Squadron pilots pose for a picture with one of their Curtiss P-40K Warhawks while stationed on Midway Island in 1943 (Mark Stevens/7th Fighter Command Association)
Veterans Day coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are commemorated in other countries, marking the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of 11th month of 1918, when the armistice with Germany went into effect.
Ground crew and pilots assigned to 640 “The Shawnee Princess/Empire Commuter” pose for a picture in front of their 462nd Fighter Squadron P-51D Mustang. From left of right: Cpl. Sheetz (armorer), Cpl. Riley (radioman), 1st Lt. Seale (pilot), Capt. Zagorsky (pilot), and Sgt. Jackson (crew chief) (506th Fighter Group Association)
Originally known as Armistice Day in the United States, it was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 at the urging of the major organizations representing veterans in the United States.
Crew members of “Thumper” pose for a picture in front of their Boeing B-29 Superfortress on Tinian Island in 1945 (870th Bomb Squadron, 497th BombGroup, 73rd Bombardment Wing)
Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day which is observed in May of each year. Veterans Day commemorates the service of all those who served in the United States Armed Forces, while Memorial Day specifically honors those who died in military service to our country.
457th Fighter Squadron pilots pose for a picture along side 642 “Fighting Lady” (506th Fighter Group Association)
Thank you to all veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Your service and sacrifices to protect and preserve the freedoms we continue to enjoy are greatly appreciated!
In their special Eday 2024 edition of Info Eduard e-magazine, Eduard announced the future release of a limited edition “Very Long Range: Tales of Iwo Jima” boxing of their excellent 1/72nd North American P-51D Mustang kit. The kit will be released in the second quarter of 2025, and will most likely contain the same decal options as their 1/48th limited edition “Very Long Range: Tales of Iwo Jima” boxing.
Eduard
Nice to see Eduard providing those who model in 1/72nd scale with 12 different decal options covering all three Iwo Jima VLR Mustang groups. Consistent with their other limited edition boxings, it is anticipated that Eduard will include a photo etch cockpit detail set, Brassin 3D printed parts (seats, exhaust stacks, wheels, etc . . .), and a lapel pin. If you are reading this Eduard, it would be nice if the lapel pin has the 7th Air Force logo on it.
In other exciting news, Eduard is getting back into the 1/32nd scale market and has announced the future release of a 1/32nd North American P-51B Mustang. Nice to see Eduard announce the future release of a quality 1/32nd P-51B. While the Trumpeter 1/32nd P-51B kit is a decent kit, it has a large number of inaccuracies.
Iwo Jima Models 