This folder contains a second repaint for the A2A WoP3 P-51D Mustang, in the colors of P-51D 44-14534 IV-B "Princess Pat". The original Princess Pat was a P-51C (42-103339) flown by Lt. Edward J. Thorne with the 369th FS/359th FG out of East Wretham. This aircraft was lost 4 NOV 44 to enemy AAA. Lt. Thorne survived and became a POW. This paint imagines he was able to limp back across the lines in his damaged craft and return to duty. 44-14534 did fly with the 369th FS as IV-B, but no assigned pilot is known.
Lt. Thorne was unusual in that he flew from March until November 1944 but never took credit for his victories (by his count, 4-6 in the air and 1 or 2 on the ground), in fact he refused to arm his gun camera. "I do it because it's my job" he said, "...but I don't want credit for it." He is credited with the first reported sighting of an Me-163 Komet rocket plane.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the A2A paint kit.
Lt. Thorne was unusual in that he flew from March until November 1944 but never took credit for his victories (by his count, 4-6 in the air and 1 or 2 on the ground), in fact he refused to arm his gun camera. "I do it because it's my job" he said, "...but I don't want credit for it." He is credited with the first reported sighting of an Me-163 Komet rocket plane.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the A2A paint kit.
