File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72197, 44-74317, 44-84857.jpg
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[edit]Description192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72197, 44-74317, 44-84857.jpg |
English: Lineup of the North American F-51D-25-NA Mustangs, sn. 44-72197 / FF-197, 44-74317 / FF-317, 44-84857 / FF-857 together with 7-8 other unidentified Mustangs from the 192nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, on the 131st Fighter-Bomber Group (FBG) ramp at George AFB, Victorville, California, during August of 1952. The picture shows a contingent of Mustangs proposed for the Iceland Defense Force (IDF), while being evaluated and prepared at Victorville for the suitability of a long distance overwater transfer flight to Keflavik air base in Iceland. However sn. 44-84857 / FF-857 was not part of this evaluation contingent and never served with the Iceland Defense Force (IDF). One of the last overseas deployments of a F-51D Mustang unit by the U.S. Air Force was in late 1952 when 25 aircraft of the 131st Fighter-Bomber Group (FBG), were assigned to the Iceland Defense Force (IDF) at Keflavik air base in Iceland. Most of the 25 Mustangs came from the 192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron (FBS), Nevada Air National Guard (NEV-ANG), with fillers from the 110th FBS, Missouri Air National Guard (MO-ANG) and 170th FBS, Illinois Air National Guard (ILL-ANG), as no squadron in the 131st had the originally required number of 35 airplanes to be readied for the mission. For preparation all aircraft were flown to Sacramento for the installation of navigation and IFF systems. The flight transfer to Iceland commenced from George Air Force Base, California with landings at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, Wright-Patterson, Ohio, Otis AFB, Massachusetts, and Presque Isle, Main. According to written personal notes from Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen (flight chief, line chief, and quality control inspector of the F-51 Mustangs stationed at Keflavik airbase in 1952) which include a serial number list for all of the 25 IDF Mustangs, only 44-74317 / FF-317 (second in the line up) of the above identified Mustangs, actually arrived and served with the IDF at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland. 44-84857 / FF-857 (third in the line up) was part of the 10 spare Mustangs which had been readied for the transfer journey to Iceland, but eventually left behind in USA as the other 25 Mustangs proceeded on to Iceland. 44-72197 / FF-197 (first in the line up) was parked on the ramp with the prepared IDF aircraft but was not on the Iceland list. The sliding canopy frame, propeller spinner, and tips of wings and tail empennage were Dark Insignia Blue (the standard color trim for the 192nd FBS). The windshield fame and the anti-glare panels (between the propeller and the windshield) were black and some Olive Drab (often not distinguishable from black in color photos). Some aircraft had stainless steel panels around the exhaust stacks painted glossy black for easy cleaning. The landing gear strut fairings had a 6 inch color at the panel bottom for separate flight identity, blue, red, and yellow. The panels over the filtered air intakes on the lower nose were painted red. Mustang 44-72197 / FF-197 is painted in the tri-colors of the 131st wing and was the wing commanders assigned aircraft, i.e. tri-colors stripes on the aft fuselage, the canopy frame, under the anti-glare panel between the propeller and the windshield, on the propeller spinner, on wing and tail empennage tips, and on the drop tanks. Squadron color of the 110 FBS (Missouri ANG) was red, 170 FBS (Illinois ANG) had yellow, and the 192 FBS (Nevada ANG) had dark blue.
"P/F-51 assignment, Iceland During August 27, 1952, 35 Mustangs were readied for launch from George AFB, Victorville, California with destination og Keflavik, Iceland by 1 September, 1952. The aircraft were prepared in A/W T.O. 00-25-4 for overseas transfer and modified with APX-6 transponders to provide the latest IFF capability. Two groups of 17 and 18 aircraft were flown across the U.S. in a northern and southern routing through bases coordinated for en-route support. Two C-119 aircraft were manned with 15 man crews to follow the flights and repair ant turn and launch the Mustangs at each base. Intend was to reach the east coast with 30 aircraft and proceed on with the best 25 for the final destination. The serials listed below were in place in Keflavik and on alert by 15 September of 1952. The aircraft were assigned to the 192 Ftr Bmr Sqdn. (TAC) with support crews made up from three squadrons of the 146 Ftr Bmr Wg, the 178th, 186th and 190th. Serial:
44-72708
44-73788
44-74482
44-74880
44-74845
44-74717
44-73769
44-74586
44-74963
44-72843
44-74377
44-74522
44-84769
44-74382*
44-73996
44-73826
44-74870
44-73409
44-74317
44-74811
44-84834
44-74975
44-74959
44-74368
45-11364 The aircraft served until April, 1953 and were replaced by F-94B interceptors assigned to the 82nd FIS. The Mustang unit designation changed to the 436th Ftr Sqdn on 1 December, 1952. The Mustangs were flown to England, (Renfrew) and transferred to AMC at Brookley field, Mobile Alabama and eventually to Norton AFB Sam Bernardino California were they were scrapped in May of 1954. *) 44-74382 was left at BW-1 (Narssasuak, Greenland) enroute for an engine change which was completed in one week. A B-26 Navigation aircraft accompanied the Mustangs on all the overwater legs and the later pick-up of 382. The final jet equipped unit remaining in Iceland was designated the 57th FIS. And equipped with F-89C interceptors in October of 1954. The 435th returned to George AFB and was established as a regular Air Force Squadron equipped with F-86F aircraft. Except for a few remaining on active duty, the three support units returned to Air National Status. During this period, the Mustang units in Korea were converted to jet aircraft with the Mustangs being assigned to the ROK air Force and these units along with the Icelandic units were the last overseas assignment of the Mustang with the USAF. This form checked 15 April, 2008. R. W. Gruenhagen." NB. At the time of the arrival of the Mustang unit in Keflavik on 1st of September 1952 the unit was part of the 131st Fighter-Bomber Group FBG. The Mustang unit designation changed to the 436th FS on the 1st of December 1952. The designation was changed again to 435th FBS on the 2nd of December 1952 and remained so until the end of the Iceland deployment in the spring of 1953.
1. Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen: “Mustang – The Story of the P-51 Fighter” Arco, N.Y., Revised edition, 1976, ISBN-10: 0668039124, ISBN-13: 978-0668039123 Sleeve notes from his book state the following about the author:
"Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen, USAF (Retired) began his military service in 1947. His long and active career included the 186th Fighter Squadron, SAC, TAC, and the Icelandic Defense Force. He is a member of the Air Force Association, the American Aviation Historical Society, and the Association of P-51 Historians and Enthusiasts. He serves as consultant and advisor with matters related to historic aircraft during the World War II. He is the author of Mustang: The Story of the P-51 Fighter and a well-known expert on the P-51. Among his numerous decorations and awards, Col. Gruenhagen received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, and the Texas State Meritorious Service Award."
2. Jeffrey L. Ethell: "P-51 Mustang, A Documentary History", Jane's Publishing, UK 1981, ISBN 10: 0710600704, ISBN 13: 9780710600707 3. Nicholas M. Williams: "Aircraft of the United States' Military Air Transport Service, 1948–1966", Midland Publishing Ltd. UK, 1999, ISBN-10: 1 85780 087 7, ISBN-13: 978-1857800876 4. David W. Menard: "USAF Plus Fifteen: A Photo History 1947-62", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., USA, 2004, ISBN-10: 0887404839, ISBN-13: 978-088740483
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Date | |
Source | USAF Archive. Personal notes from Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen via Baldjbald |
Author | United States Air Force |
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- Commons:WikiProject Aviation/recent uploads/2017 August 10
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, lineup at Keflavik AFB, Iceland.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72197, 44-74317, 44-84?57.jpg (file redirect)
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72843, 44-74482, 44-74880, 44-73788.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-73822.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-74959.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-30-NA Mustang, sn. 44-74880.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72197, 44-74317, 44-84?57.jpg (file redirect)
- File:192nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D Mustangs, low level formation flight over volcanic terrain in Iceland.jpg
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