It's been a long time (60+) years, but I seem to recall an article I read probably in the 50's about some American pilot USAAF or USAF who had flown a P-51 from the US non stop across the Atlantic to somewhere in Europe. I think the wings were refitted so the entire wing volume was sealed to make them gas tanks; don't remember what else was done to the plane.
During WWII Bill Overstreet chased a German fighter under the Eiffel Tower, don't remember the outcome other Bill made it back to his base,I think. Bill Overstreet passed away a few years ago.
It's been a long time (60+) years, but I seem to recall an article I read probably in the 50's about some American pilot USAAF or USAF who had flown a P-51 from the US non stop across the Atlantic to somewhere in Europe. I think the wings were refitted so the entire wing volume was sealed to make them gas tanks; don't remember what else was done to the plane.
You read about Charles F Blair Jr, a former Naval Aviator during WWII, later a USAF Brigadier General. He flew the P51 "Excaliber III nonstop from New York to London in Jan of '51 and in May of that year flew nonstop from Bardufus Norway to Fairbanks Alaska. He was awarded the Harmon Trophy in 1951 and still holds the record for the fastest trans Atlantic flight for piston aircraft. In '59, he commanded a flight of two F100s from England to Alaska in the first transpolar flight for jet fighter aircraft. He was awarded the DFC for that. I knew him, VERY VERY casually as Captain Blair, a senior pilot for Pan Am. He also owned Antilles Airboats, an airline that flew amphibians between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. And as if that wasn't enough for one man, he was married to Maureen O'Hara. He died in a crash of a Grumman Goose he was flying between St Thomas and St Croix. He was a true aviator and a pioneer.
Very good post, my friend; the P-51 is one of three great planes of WWII; the other two are the F-4U Corsair and the Supermarine Spitfire.
I think there were more than three great aircraft in WWII. Any list would have to include the Zero, Me109, B-17, Hawker Hurricane and several others too.
bobericLoc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
FrankR wrote:
I think there were more than three great aircraft in WWII. Any list would have to include the Zero, Me109, B-17, Hawker Hurricane and several others too.