North American P-51D Mustang 357th Fighter Group Christmas Card by Philip E. West GAvA
American built, British
inspired and once re-engined with a licence-built Rolls Royce Merlin one of the
finest fighters ever to fly, the superb Mustang became the best long-range
escort fighter of the war. The aircraft shown here, P-51D ‘Old Crow’ was the
mount of Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, who would finish the war with 16.25 aerial
victories and was still flying a P-51D Mustang at the age of 81. The aircraft,
part of the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group
is seen at Leiston, Suffolk in the winter months of 1945.
