P-51D-20NA "Sissy Mana"

[JayW]

This is a real long shot, but I have been told that LSP folks can produce miracles.  My uncle (now deceased) was Henry Rudolph, and he flew P-51D's in WW2 for the 354th FG, 353rd FS.  He arrived sometime in 1944 after the D-model was becoming prevalent.  He was shot down once, but (rather miraculously) returned to base in France.  The aircraft he appears to have flown at war's end was a P-51D-20 serial number 44-63865, buzz letters FT-J.  This may or may not have been his personal mount.  Historical accounts show that aircraft assigned to him only.  According to him, he named this aircraft "Sissy Mana" for his sister (my mother), whose nickname as a child was Mana.  Also, supposedly the aircraft had nose art.  There is a film available on the 354th FG with alot of footage of take-offs and landings, where I believe I saw FT-J taking off.  It did not have nose art and I have no idea if that was 44-63865.  44-63865 survived the war, did the typical ANG and foreign air force tours, raced some, and apparently is flying today! 

 

I would like to model Sissy Mana but I have no idea what the nose art looked like, if it even existed.  Anybody got any ideas?  I have searched everywhere.      

[Uncarina]

Found this: https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/serial/44-63865 , but you might have seen this already.

 

Cheers, Tom

[Kagemusha]

Found on forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/p51dk-mustang-4463160-4464000 

 

P-51D-20-NA Mustang/44-63865
*12/1944: Delivered to the USAAF.
*USAAF 353rd FS (354th FG) as FT-M.
*4/1945: Sold to the Swedish AF as 26018.
*1945: F16 Wing as red S and red C.
*1949: F16 Wing as black 18.
*1952: F16 Wing as black 14.
*6/1953: Sold to the Dominican Republic AF.
*1/1955: Sold to the Nicaraguan AF as 90.
*Sold on the civilian market and registered as N6163U, N51JK, and N151TF.

 

You can see FT-J here

 

Can't find anything on the specific aircraft, but maybe go with the names in the style of a group artist in the group colours of yellow and black, such as...

 

 

[JayW]

On 12/10/2020 at 4:28 PM, Kagemusha said:

Found on forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/p51dk-mustang-4463160-4464000 

 

P-51D-20-NA Mustang/44-63865
*12/1944: Delivered to the USAAF.
*USAAF 353rd FS (354th FG) as FT-M.
*4/1945: Sold to the Swedish AF as 26018.
*1945: F16 Wing as red S and red C.
*1949: F16 Wing as black 18.
*1952: F16 Wing as black 14.
*6/1953: Sold to the Dominican Republic AF.
*1/1955: Sold to the Nicaraguan AF as 90.
*Sold on the civilian market and registered as N6163U, N51JK, and N151TF.

 

You can see FT-J herea 

 

Wow - the first time I have seen stills of FT-J.  But with serial number 44-63521, and named "Polly III".  This was definitely not Henry Rudolph's mount.  A Charles Olmstead is described on that website who flew a "Polly" P-47D during the brief period the 354th flew that type.  Those guys typically carried over the same names when they converted to P-47's, and then back again.  I have to believe a Mustang of the same name would have been his as well.  Also this aircraft was lost due to a take-off accident 3/3/45.   And we know 63685 survived the war.  

 

So "FT" are the buzz letters of the 353rd fighter squadron.  I have to believe dozens of aircraft came and went during the time that squadron was active in WW2, just like any active squadron.  That would mean more than one aircraft would have sported the same buzz letters although not at the same time.  And could explain why 44-63865 may have had the same letters.  However, I also have to believe both those aircraft were with the 353rd at the same time.  So that confuses the heck out of me.      

 

The forgottenprops website shows 44-63865 with buzz letters FT-M, as seen above.  ????  Yet the mustangsurvivors website has buzz letters FT-J.  This adds to the confusion.  

 

I also know my uncle used up more than one aircraft - he was shot down once according to him.  Who knows which aircraft that was - there must be a record of it somewhere.  The story he told me was pretty hair raising, with a protracted energy-sapping dogfight that made its way to the surface, making a bailout no longer an option.  The German pilot (in a 109 according to him) got the better of him and caused a crash landing in a farm field in occupied Belgium (again according to him).  He fled the scene uninjured, obtained the help of some locals, and made his way back to allied lines.  I have no idea where his wing man was nor the rest of his flight, nor what the mission was (probably a fighter sweep).    

[Tnarg]

Amazing stories. These guys were real heroes and your uncle really deserves your tribute build. Good luck with more data, but at some time we all have to go "close enough". I know that I wish I had a few hours and a recorder with all of my family who are now passed on. So much we don't know that was in their heads and their history, taken for granted, but amazing to us.

 

Tnarg

[Cicchino]

For all the schemes that have been done to death, Jack Bradley’s Margie Mary’s have been underserved. Bradley was a 15 victory ace and excellent com at leader: not sure why we haven’t seen more. 

[Cicchino]

Ugh Spell check 

 

Margie Maru is his p-51s’ names. And he was an excellent ‘combat’ leader. 

[JayW]

Well if we are going to discuss other 353 FS aircraft and pilots, I have always liked this picture of "Beantown Banshee":  

 

 

Low level dogfights - geez gives me chills.  

[JayW]

So what is behind the enormous popularity of this airplane?  So much can be said and has been said about the P-51, to the point that WW2 aircraft buffs roll their eyes.  Fans of the F4U, F6F, P-47, and P-38 (and FW-190 and Spitfire too) come to the defense of their favorite kites.  And the debates continue.  Of course the mission was not always the same, but I am talking mostly escort role here, a very noble mission, which all those types did at least on occasion.  I probably harbor some bias, because of my uncle and "Sissy Mana".  But that aside, I think what separates the P-51B/C/D/K is that it combined some fine qualities with damned few weaknesses, and hugely importantly - it took those qualities all the way to Berlin, or the Japanese mainland, and back, regularly and in numbers.  It continues to amaze me that the Merlin equipped models were as good as they were, the airframe optimized not for that engine but the Allison!  From the firewall back, not much had to be changed!  And that engine took an already superior airframe and gave it great range, and great performance at high altitude - a combination that made it the perfect escort fighter. Thank you UK - without you there would never have been a Mustang as we know it.  

 

But do you know why I think it is so popular then and today?  Because it is so undeniably sexy looking.  I've seen them in person and watched them buzz fields.  Good god what a beautiful aircraft.  

 

 

[Derek B]

Great connection Jay, thank you.

 

I haven't found anything as yet, but the search continues (I am certain that if there is a single good identifiable image of your Uncle's aircraft, someone would have produced a decal sheet for it by now!). I hope that someone has an image in their private collection somewhere and are perhaps willing to share it with you?

 

Good luck

 

Derek

Edited December 16, 2020 by Derek B

[Derek B]

11 hours ago, MARU5137 said:

The link.(the above copied posts in link below)

Discussed Sissy  Mana..

 

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8260&mobile=desktop

 

 

 

 

 

Good thread and good sleuthing Maru!

 

I feel that for some reason, this particular aircraft has slipped through the net and really does need to be recognised as both a tribute to Lt Rudolph as well as the mount of a USAAF air ace, so really needs reproducing in decal form.

 

We now know the aircraft identity (and it still exists, which is amazing in itself), we know the FG operator and code letters, all that is now needed is that single elusive image showing the form, position and likely colours of the nose art wording 'Sissy Mana' (and any other artwork which it may have displayed at that time).

 

Derek

[JayW]

Wow thanks guys!!!  The WIX thread is so interesting.  Pretty old (2006), but boy do I wish I could get ahold of this fellow Jack Cook!  He had a bunch of info on 354th, and also was contacted by one if Hank's "kids" (he has three, my 1st cousins, who I knew when we were kids but have lost touch with).  The WIX thread seems to clear up some confusion.   The s/n of Hank's aircraft must have been 44-63865 and not 44-63685 which must have been a typo.  It must have acquired the FT-J buzz letters after the takeoff mishap of "Polly III" in March of '45, that aircraft carrying FT-J at the time.  Who knows why those letters were transferred to 63865....  And, it sounds as if 63865 was indeed Hank's personal mount towards the end of the war, had very few hours on it (even though he got his 4th and 5th air victories in it), and it carried nose art "Sissy Mana" and his scoreboard of 5 confirmed.  

 

"all that is now needed is that single elusive image showing the form, position and likely colours of the nose art wording 'Sissy Mana' (and any other artwork which it may have displayed at that time)."  Says Derek B.  Yes - that is the challenge.   I must somehow restore contact with my first cousins, who inherited Hank's memoirs.  One of them may have some pictures we do not have.  

Edited December 16, 2020 by JayW

[cmayer]

On 12/16/2020 at 11:40 AM, JayW said:

Wow thanks guys!!!  The WIX thread is so interesting.  Pretty old (2006), but boy do I wish I could get ahold of this fellow Jack Cook!  He had a bunch of info on 354th, and also was contacted by one if Hank's "kids" (he has three, my 1st cousins, who I knew when we were kids but have lost touch with).  The WIX thread seems to clear up some confusion.   The s/n of Hank's aircraft must have been 44-63865 and not 44-63685 which must have been a typo.  It must have acquired the FT-J buzz letters after the takeoff mishap of "Polly III" in March of '45, that aircraft carrying FT-J at the time.  Who knows why those letters were transferred to 63865....  And, it sounds as if 63865 was indeed Hank's personal mount towards the end of the war, had very few hours on it (even though he got his 4th and 5th air victories in it), and it carried nose art "Sissy Mana" and his scoreboard of 5 confirmed.  

 

"all that is now needed is that single elusive image showing the form, position and likely colours of the nose art wording 'Sissy Mana' (and any other artwork which it may have displayed at that time)."  Says Derek B.  Yes - that is the challenge.   I must somehow restore contact with my first cousins, who inherited Hank's memoirs.  One of them may have some pictures we do not have.  

Jack Cook is active on Facebook in nearly every WWII tribute group/page...he has an extensive (amazing, really) collection of wartime photos he has amassed over the last many years through personal contact and developed friendships with the veterans and pilots themselves. He's also been active in the warbird and airshow circuit since the 70s, involved with local warbird organizations in Oregon. I only know him through the 325th Checkertail Clan WWII organization and their page on Facebook...but he has accurate records to accompany his many photos. Recommend you search for him there.

[cmayer]

Jay: I reached out to Jack Cook and he replied (enthusiastically) that if you are active on Facebook, or could become active, send Jack a friend request and also request to join his 354 FG page...I think we all are anxious to hear where this might lead for you. Jack’s profile here:
https://www.facebook.com/jack.cook.589

 

Good Hunting!!

Edited December 20, 2020 by cmayer
Added link to profile

[Kagemusha]

Take a look at this piece, you should contact the author Joe B. Wilkinson, particularly regards these paragraphs;

 

"I was very fortunate that Hank was willing to share with me his firsthand accounts of being a WW II fighter pilot along with access to his log books and photo albums. Thanks to LTCOL Ken Tilley those items are now part of the records at Maxwell Air Force Base and the USAF History Center.

 

Two years ago I came across a DVD of the 354th Fighter Group that included every film or newsreel made about the unit from 1942-1945. It included the film of Hank leading the last combat mission of WWII. It even showed him being greeted by his crew chief as he exited his P-51 at the end of the mission and the end of WWII in May of 1945."