Gathering of Mustangs Gathering of Mustangs and Legends 2007and Legends 2007

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Larry WilcoxLarry Wilcox

I thought this would be a once in a lifetime event and that I really needed to go I thought this would be a once in a lifetime event and that I really needed to go see it. I was not disappointed. I drove up to Columbus on Wednesday and see it. I was not disappointed. I drove up to Columbus on Wednesday and got up early Thursday morning to go and see the planes come in. got up early Thursday morning to go and see the planes come in. Unfortunately, the weather was awful. The ceiling was about 300 feet and it Unfortunately, the weather was awful. The ceiling was about 300 feet and it was raining pretty hard. So I figured I would read for awhile and see what was raining pretty hard. So I figured I would read for awhile and see what was going to happen. A friend that was also there called and said a bunch of was going to happen. A friend that was also there called and said a bunch of them were going to the Air Force Museum in Dayton and I was welcome to them were going to the Air Force Museum in Dayton and I was welcome to tag along. So we spent the day in Dayton. Of course I didn’t have my tripod tag along. So we spent the day in Dayton. Of course I didn’t have my tripod with me so my pictures are not real good from there. But I have been there with me so my pictures are not real good from there. But I have been there before so mostly I just enjoyed the sights and sounds. Friday morning was before so mostly I just enjoyed the sights and sounds. Friday morning was clear and bright so I headed for the airshow. After working out a few kinks in clear and bright so I headed for the airshow. After working out a few kinks in the organization, we were all allowed into the show grounds. I was really the organization, we were all allowed into the show grounds. I was really glad I was able to go on Friday because otherwise I would never have gotten glad I was able to go on Friday because otherwise I would never have gotten pictures of all the planes. There were still planes coming in on Friday and I pictures of all the planes. There were still planes coming in on Friday and I think the final number of P-51s was probably about 68-70, which I thought think the final number of P-51s was probably about 68-70, which I thought was pretty good considering the weather earlier in the week.was pretty good considering the weather earlier in the week.

I have pictures of all the P-51s side art I think and I haven’t decided whether to I have pictures of all the P-51s side art I think and I haven’t decided whether to do a presentation of that or not. If you are interested, let me know and I can do a presentation of that or not. If you are interested, let me know and I can do one. I had only seen maybe a third or less of the planes before, so it was do one. I had only seen maybe a third or less of the planes before, so it was kind of interesting. A lot of the planes were so clean you could eat off them, kind of interesting. A lot of the planes were so clean you could eat off them, others looked like they had just returned from combat. others looked like they had just returned from combat.

I am going to try to include some of everything that I saw in this show, not just I am going to try to include some of everything that I saw in this show, not just the P-51s.the P-51s.

The show started with the National Anthem and the Red Baron Stearman The show started with the National Anthem and the Red Baron Stearman squadron flying around the flag.squadron flying around the flag.

Since we have been here with our grandsons, we have tried the Red Baron Since we have been here with our grandsons, we have tried the Red Baron Pizza and it is actually pretty good.Pizza and it is actually pretty good.

One of the best airshow acts is the Aeroshell team. I hadn’t seen them in a couple of years. It seems One of the best airshow acts is the Aeroshell team. I hadn’t seen them in a couple of years. It seems they tried to have planes that were associated with the Air Force and the P-51. The T-6 Texan was they tried to have planes that were associated with the Air Force and the P-51. The T-6 Texan was an Advanced Trainer, usually the last plane a pilot flew before he went to fighters.an Advanced Trainer, usually the last plane a pilot flew before he went to fighters.

Lee Lauderback and Crazy Horse are airshow staples. Lee was one of the Lee Lauderback and Crazy Horse are airshow staples. Lee was one of the driving forces behind the Gathering. You can buy a ride in this plane in driving forces behind the Gathering. You can buy a ride in this plane in Florida.Florida.

One of my favorites was Princess Elizabeth, a P-51C from Philadelphia. Jim Beasley owns One of my favorites was Princess Elizabeth, a P-51C from Philadelphia. Jim Beasley owns this plane and also Frenesi and Bald Eagle, both P-51Ds. Being a lawyer must pay pretty this plane and also Frenesi and Bald Eagle, both P-51Ds. Being a lawyer must pay pretty good. There are about 4 or five P-51 pilots that are a cut above the rest and Jim Beasley good. There are about 4 or five P-51 pilots that are a cut above the rest and Jim Beasley is definitely one of those.is definitely one of those.

P-51C “Princess Elizabeth”P-51C “Princess Elizabeth”

Hell-er Bust was one of the ones you could eat off of. It was spotless.Hell-er Bust was one of the ones you could eat off of. It was spotless.

Dusty’s Dolly was a little more rustic, probably more accurate than the highly Dusty’s Dolly was a little more rustic, probably more accurate than the highly polished P-51s.polished P-51s.

They had single ship demos from the F-16, F-15 and F-22. The F-16 had a They had single ship demos from the F-16, F-15 and F-22. The F-16 had a single P-51 Heritage Flight.single P-51 Heritage Flight.

F-16 Heritage FlightF-16 Heritage Flight

F-15 Heritage FlightF-15 Heritage Flight

F-22 Heritage FlightF-22 Heritage Flight

P-38 Lightning called Ruff P-38 Lightning called Ruff Stuff.Stuff.Glacier Girl was also there, but Glacier Girl was also there, but did not fly.did not fly.

Bell P-63 King Cobra.Bell P-63 King Cobra.

P-47 ThunderboltP-47 Thunderbolt

You have heard of the F-82, Twin Mustang? I guess this is a Twin Thunderbolt.You have heard of the F-82, Twin Mustang? I guess this is a Twin Thunderbolt.

P-51D Old Crow. Most of the P-51s represent actual aircraft. Old Crow was P-51D Old Crow. Most of the P-51s represent actual aircraft. Old Crow was flown by Col. Bud Anderson, who shot down 16 ¼ enemy aircraft.flown by Col. Bud Anderson, who shot down 16 ¼ enemy aircraft.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolts. Republic P-47D Thunderbolts. Wicked Wabbit and Hun Hunter Wicked Wabbit and Hun Hunter XVI are two of the most popular XVI are two of the most popular planes at airshows, partly planes at airshows, partly because of thebecause of therarity of the planes and because rarity of the planes and because the pilots are very good and the pilots are very good and nice people.nice people.

These planes were built at the These planes were built at the Maytag factory in Evansville, Maytag factory in Evansville, Indiana, about 50 miles south Indiana, about 50 miles south of here.of here.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

Avro Lancaster Bomber. One of two flying in the world.Avro Lancaster Bomber. One of two flying in the world.

Avro LancasterAvro Lancaster

B-25 “Pacific Prowler”B-25 “Pacific Prowler”

B-25 “Axis Nightmare”B-25 “Axis Nightmare”

B-17G Yankee Lady. It is amazing to hear how many of these were lost and B-17G Yankee Lady. It is amazing to hear how many of these were lost and each one had a crew of 10!each one had a crew of 10!

On Saturday, Yankee Lady was “hit” by flak while bombing and an engine smoked for On Saturday, Yankee Lady was “hit” by flak while bombing and an engine smoked for awhile. This was an interesting show. You could almost feel what it must have been like.awhile. This was an interesting show. You could almost feel what it must have been like.

There is an interesting story in the program about a B-17 that was hit while on There is an interesting story in the program about a B-17 that was hit while on a bombing run in 1944. It fell out of formation and was limping home to a bombing run in 1944. It fell out of formation and was limping home to England when it was set upon by three German BF-109 fighters. It was England when it was set upon by three German BF-109 fighters. It was being further damaged when a P-51 appeared and shot down two of the being further damaged when a P-51 appeared and shot down two of the Germans and drove the other one away. The B-17 pilot had no idea who Germans and drove the other one away. The B-17 pilot had no idea who the P-51 pilot was but the P-51 came up beside the B-17 and saluted as he the P-51 pilot was but the P-51 came up beside the B-17 and saluted as he pulled away. The side art on the P-51 was “Hurry Home Honey”. Sixty pulled away. The side art on the P-51 was “Hurry Home Honey”. Sixty years later in Lexington, Kentucky Dr. Kent Mosley, the B-17 pilot, met years later in Lexington, Kentucky Dr. Kent Mosley, the B-17 pilot, met Major Pete Peterson, the P-51 pilot for the first time.Major Pete Peterson, the P-51 pilot for the first time.

Major Peterson’s wife ended every letter with the phrase “Hurry Home Honey” Major Peterson’s wife ended every letter with the phrase “Hurry Home Honey” and that is what he named his plane.and that is what he named his plane.

P-51D “Hurry Home Honey”P-51D “Hurry Home Honey”

P-51A “Polar Bear” P-51A “Polar Bear”

P-51D “Red Dog XII”P-51D “Red Dog XII”

This airport was where the This airport was where the Tuskegee Airmen Tuskegee Airmen learned to fly the P-51. learned to fly the P-51. There were 46 of the There were 46 of the Tuskegee Airmen at the Tuskegee Airmen at the show. A salute to them show. A salute to them was flown by the Red was flown by the Red Tail P-51C “Ina” Macon Tail P-51C “Ina” Macon Belle.Belle.

P-51D “Twilight Tear”. This plane came from England for the show.P-51D “Twilight Tear”. This plane came from England for the show.

P-51D “Sizzlin’ Liz”P-51D “Sizzlin’ Liz”

P-51D “Obsession”P-51D “Obsession”

P-51D “DiamondBack”P-51D “DiamondBack”

Some of the P-51s taking off for the finale.Some of the P-51s taking off for the finale.

While getting the P-While getting the P-51s in formation, 51s in formation, John Mohr flew the John Mohr flew the Stearman again. Stearman again. This was one of the This was one of the crowd favorites.crowd favorites.

Twenty P-51s in formation. I didn’t stay for Sunday so don’t know how many Twenty P-51s in formation. I didn’t stay for Sunday so don’t know how many were up for that one.were up for that one.

The last pass on Saturday. It was a really good show.The last pass on Saturday. It was a really good show.