Strana 56
P-51B-1-NA, s/n 43-12375, Capt. Don M. Beerbower, 353rd FS, 354th FG, 9th AF,
A-2 Cricqueville, France, June 1944
P-51C-10-NT, s/n 43-25054, Lt. Robert M. Scott, 79th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF, Kings Cliffe,
Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, November 1944
Don Merrill Beerbower named his Mustang,
which he flew with the 353rd FS, 354th FG,
in honor of his daughter Bonnie B. He flew his
first combat mission on December 1, 1943 and
scored his first victory over a Bf 109 on January
5, 1944. He was promoted to the rank of Captain
on January 15, 1944 and achieved ace status on
February 20, 1944, by shooting down another
Bf 109. After the invasion of Normandy in June
1944, the unit moved to Cricqueville airfield,
a forward field airfield in Normandy, northern
France. Beerbower became a double ace on
August 8, 1944, after achieving his tenth victory.
Although fellow pilots were switching to the newer
P-51Ds, Beerbower decided to keep his B version
aircraft because it was lighter, had higher speed
as well as climb rate and better maneuverability.
Beerbower scored his last victory on July 7, 1944,
which he achieved by shooting down a Focke-
Wulf Fw 190, bringing his total number of aerial
victories to 15. He destroyed two more aircraft on
the ground. On August 9, 1944, Beerbower led his
squadron on an armed reconnaissance mission
during which he located an enemy airfield. To test
air defensive capabilities, he conducted an attack,
destroying an enemy aircraft and an AA position.
On the second attack his aircraft received hits to
the wing and fuselage. Unfortunately, he struck
the tail surfaces while exiting the aircraft on
a parachute and was tragically killed. He was
posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross and Silver Star for his last mission.
A Mustang of four forms, that’s what you could
call the color history of this P-51C s/n 43-25054.
At the start, when the aircraft lacked the fin,
Lt. W. H. Lewis was flying it. At that time,
the aircraft was camouflaged with Olive Drab
paint on the upper surfaces and bore the
inscription Hells Belle and a small devil painting.
After the fin was applied and the Olive Drab
camouflage was partially removed especially in
the fuselage area, the aircraft received black and
white stripes on the nose and the Beaverhead
Filly lettering was painted on the port side.
The Mustang thus painted was flown by Lt. Keith
C. Price, who scored his only kill in it. Lt. Robert
M. Scott was the next pilot to take over this
aircraft and had the inscription Shoot You’re Faded
painted on the port side of its engine cowling.
The inscription Berties Bet was later added.
Throughout its wartime career, this Mustang was
cared for by the same mechanic and armorer,
Sgt. E. Schrader and Sgt. A. Kublin. Under their
care, this Mustang flew over 700 hours during
the war and lived to see the end of it. It finally
crashed near Munich after the war.
KITS 10/2024
INFO Eduard56
October 2024