Help Identifying a P-51D

[Whiplash]

'rides herd' is a description of what they were doing. It is a reference to cattle ranchers, in the 'old west' riding along with the herd, to guard it, while moving it(i.e. from one grazing area to another).

 

Ok cool, thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Mysticpuma]

I got a little better picture of the nose. I think it could say little Mac but it also looks like Mac might be a part of another word.

 

 

 

Edit: little Mac 1502, or little ma C1502?

 

I had a play around in Photoshop and although the image comes out still 'messy' (oh for the original), it appears to read LITTLE 'MAC' KAY or LITTLE 'MAC' RAY.

 

Not sure that helps much, but the best I could see :(

[Merlin-27]

Whip, you are getting closer!

 

Think about seeing where research on this guy might get you? Maybe he took more pics? Sounds like quite a character.

[Merlin-27]

Dude... check this out :)

 

Hard to find photos of that aircraft though. Your grand-dad picked a good pilot to get a photograph of!

 

William T. Mattison (1916–1951) was born on October 16, 1916. He was schooled at the Pine Street School in Conway (Faulkner County) and attended Arkansas A&M College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello) and Howard University in Washington DC, becoming a rural school teacher before his military service. Mattison graduated from Tuskegee’s flight program on October 9, 1942, as a second lieutenant. Mattison served as operations officer and a member of the famed 100th Squadron in Italy. Mattison also provided leadership to the 302nd Fighter Squadron in March 1943 and was a member of the 332nd Fighter Squadron (Red Tails). He was one of the most decorated Arkansans during any time of conflict, rising to the rank of major and earning the Flying Cross, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and two Bronze Service Stars, among numerous other awards for campaigns in Rome, Arno, southern France, the Rhineland, the Balkans, northern France, the northern Apennines, and Po Valley. Mattison died in an airplane crash en route to Ohio on January 28, 1951, and his remains are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

 

There have to be more photos of the nose somewhere... I'm curious if it's Little "MAC" or Little "MAE"

Edited March 30, 2014 by Merlin-27

[Double_D]

Nice catch I think we will add this to our Squadron skin collection...thanks...

 

Here is a link of more pilots and the planes they flew...http://forum.armyairforces.com/Listing-of-Names-used-on-332nd-planes-Where-might-I-find-them-m214326.aspx

 

Dude... check this out :)

 

Hard to find photos of that aircraft though. Your grand-dad picked a good pilot to get a photograph of!

 

William T. Mattison (1916–1951) was born on October 16, 1916. He was schooled at the Pine Street School in Conway (Faulkner County) and attended Arkansas A&M College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello) and Howard University in Washington DC, becoming a rural school teacher before his military service. Mattison graduated from Tuskegee’s flight program on October 9, 1942, as a second lieutenant. Mattison served as operations officer and a member of the famed 100th Squadron in Italy. Mattison also provided leadership to the 302nd Fighter Squadron in March 1943 and was a member of the 332nd Fighter Squadron (Red Tails). He was one of the most decorated Arkansans during any time of conflict, rising to the rank of major and earning the Flying Cross, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and two Bronze Service Stars, among numerous other awards for campaigns in Rome, Arno, southern France, the Rhineland, the Balkans, northern France, the northern Apennines, and Po Valley. Mattison died in an airplane crash en route to Ohio on January 28, 1951, and his remains are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

 

There have to be more photos of the nose somewhere... I'm curious if it's Little "MAC" or Little "MAE"

Edited March 30, 2014 by Double_D

[Merlin-27]

Check out these pages...

 

Maybe July 27 1944? 47th Bomb Group escort mission & Mattison was a flight leader.

 

E-BOOK LINK

 

(Page 140)

Edited March 30, 2014 by Merlin-27

[Whiplash]

Wow, Merlin you're the man! Really don't know how to thank you for this. Where and how did you find that information? I'm going to continue to try and dig up some more photos of the plane. I'd love to make a skin for DCS.

[Whiplash]

I found this guy Darryl Vickers, based on this video:

 

[VV]49850323[/VV]

 

I'm guessing he will have a lot of information on William T. Mattison. I'm am going to try and contact him.

[Double_D]

I found this guy Darryl Vickers, based on this video:

 

 

 

I'm guessing he will have a lot of information on William T. Mattison. I'm am going to try and contact him.

 

Saw this earlier wasn't sure if too post it..not much info other than being related..:thumbup:

[Whiplash]

Yeah not much there in the video, I sent him a message though, hopefully he will respond.

[Whiplash]

Here is another picture I found in that same book.

 

 

The capion reads:

 

Capt William Mattison's crew chief helps him strap into his mustang before a mission. Mattison led the 8 September 1944 mission to Ilandza, in Yugoslavia, during which 18 German aeroplanes were destroyed on the ground (Western Aerospace Museum)

 

There is a small description of the mission as well on Pg. 68. They flew to two separate airbases they destroyed 15 Fw 190's and 2 Bf 109's and one SM.84 transport, as well as a locomotive on its way home.

[Double_D]

But again nose art is missing...I've asked someone who has been writing a book about them...Haulman...:thumbup:

 

Here is another picture I found in that same book.

 

 

The capion reads:

 

 

 

There is a small description of the mission as well on Pg. 68. They flew to two separate airbases they destroyed 15 Fw 190's and 2 Bf 109's and one SM.84 transport, as well as a locomotive on its way home.

[Merlin-27]

Wow, Merlin you're the man! Really don't know how to thank you for this. Where and how did you find that information? I'm going to continue to try and dig up some more photos of the plane. I'd love to make a skin for DCS.

 

Don't mention it, bud. I like a challenge and knew it'd be rewarding for you knowing the personal significance.

 

Honestly, I just started trying different ideas for keywords and flipped though far too many photos... and there it was. And my exact words were, "Holy crap I found it." :D I just wish there were more photos so we could make a proper skin.

[Whiplash]

Don't mention it, bud. I like a challenge and knew it'd be rewarding for you knowing the personal significance.

 

Honestly, I just started trying different ideas for keywords and flipped though far too many photos... and there it was. And my exact words were, "Holy crap I found it." :D I just wish there were more photos so we could make a proper skin.

 

I think I am going to have to find a way to deliver some beer to Jersey ;)

 

 

 

I got a response from Darryl Vickers (the author of the movie I posted). I didn't get a lot of information except that he said he would put me in touch with his dad who might have more pictures of Mattison's P-51.

 

Here is some work in progress of the nose.

 

[Merlin-27]

I think I am going to have to find a way to deliver some beer to Jersey ;)

 

 

 

I got a response from Darryl Vickers (the author of the movie I posted). I didn't get a lot of information except that he said he would put me in touch with his dad who might have more pictures of Mattison's P-51.

 

 

 

Here is some work in progress of the nose.

 

 

 

 

 

Lookin good! Hope we can clear up the last bits of the mystery. A tribute to the legacy of some great men.

 

Beer is a glorious currency. You can bring it to 1st annual DoW squadron BBQ. (Once we solve the obvious logistical complications)

[Whiplash]

Lookin good! Hope we can clear up the last bits of the mystery. A tribute to the legacy of some great men.

 

Beer is a glorious currency. You can bring it to 1st annual DoW squadron BBQ. (Once we solve the obvious logistical complications)

 

Indeed, given how far this has come already I am pretty optimistic at this point. By the way, beer is just about the ONLY currency we deal in here in Portlandia :thumbup:

[Whiplash]

Since no one was flying tonight I put some more finishing touches on the skin and took her up for a spin. These screen shots are a little premature but I couldn't resist.

 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2014 by Whiplash

[Merlin-27]

Man, great job. The first one looks really close!

 

EDIT: Even the custom arm patch for the 100th FS :thumbup:

Edited April 3, 2014 by Merlin-27

[Whiplash]

I made contact with the man who posted that picture of Cpt. William T. Mattison and LITTLE*MAC*. His name is Craig Huntly. This is what I have learned so far. The plane in my grandfathers photo was not Cpt. Mattison's assigned P-51. Originally Craig thought LITTLE*MAC* was assigned to Lt. Walter McCreary. However, Lt. McCreary was assigned a P-51B with the #25. He was shot down due to heavy flack and became a POW. He is still alive as far as I know. The plane in my grandfathers photo was the replacement for Lt. McCreary's after he was shot down.

 

Craig Huntly Collection chuntly@aol.com

 

Craig Huntly Collection chuntly@aol.com

 

Lt. Walter McCreary in his P-51B C.RATION - Craig Huntly Collection chuntly@aol.com

 

Interestingly enough while I was talking to my grandmother about all this yesterday she told me when my grandfather was coming home after the war the officer that was checking his gear looking for contraband or sensitive information was going to confiscate his photo album (mostly of B-24's from the 450th BG, 720th BS) until he came across a picture of a fighter. I guess it was his plane and he liked it so much that he let my grandfather bring the rest of his photos home. I should add that I don’t know for 100% certainty that it was the picture of LITTLE*MAC* that was the officers plane from that account, however out of all the pictures I have seen from my grandfather’s collection it is the only one of a WWII fighter of any kind. I vaguely remember hearing this story before but it never connected with me until I just heard it again from my grandma.

 

She also gave me some insight on their radio chatter. I will try not to paraphrase too much but she basically said my grandfather (who was primarily a radar jammer/radio operator but sometimes waist gunner) loved to tune into the 332nd escort frequency especially on the way back from a mission. He said listening to their accent and great sense of humor was very good at relieving stress from a tense mission. My grandmother even tried to imitate some of the thing my grandfather told her. Try to imagine an adorable 86 years young Alaskan Native gal doing her best to imitate their accent, but she described it like this. Two 332nd FG Escort fighters are flying above the 450th BG B-24's when they spot a 109 below the formation. One would call it out and say something like "you want to take him" and the other would respond "Nah, he not hurtin anyone all the way down there."

 

Needless to say, this has been a very interesting research project for me. Thanks a lot to all those who helped especially Merlin, I wouldn't have all this information if it weren't for his break though.

 

EDIT:Craig Huntly found more picture of the plane on the 450th BG Website... Can't believe I missed these. One appears to be of the plane when it was freshly painting before LITTLE*MAC* was on the nose. http://www.450thbg.com/real/miscellaneous/p51-25.shtml

Edited April 17, 2014 by Whiplash

[Whiplash]

After corresponding with Craig and seeing his other images, I made some finishing touches on LITTLE*MAC*. You can download the skin from the user file section here:

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/648876/

 

I hope you all will enjoy! And if anyone finds more photos or information on who the pilot might be I would greatly appreciate it if you would post it here.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sabre-TLA]

Great job! I love the back story on this skin!

[Whiplash]

Great job! I love the back story on this skin!

 

Thank you. It's really been rewarding for me. I just hope I can find out who's plane it was someday.

 

Here are some more pictures from Craig's collection chuntly@aol.com

They are a bit of a tease because I still don't have a complete close up of the nose art. However, you can clearly see the "C" and the square apostrophe thing next to it in one of these photos.

 

 

 

[SnowTiger]

Very Cool skin and the history that goes along with it.

Great Thread !

[OnlyforDCS]

Yep, great stuff. I can't help but think of the movie "Red Tails" and what a missed opportunity to make a great, historical war film instead of the typical blockbuster schlock, complete with horrible writing, acting and yes totally unrealistic action scenes and storyline.

[SnowTiger]

Really ? You didn't think the way they Leaned into the Stick on the turns was realistic ? Or the way they were thrown from side to side on the turns looked real ?

 

I AGREE !