78th Fighter
Group 78th Fighter
Group 
A fine profile rendering of P-51D, WZ-X, a/n 44-72099, "Little Chic". This aircraft was assigned to 1st. Lt. Warren S. Blodgett, 84th Fighter Squadron, on November 14, 1944 and served to the EOW. This profile art work was provided for the "78th Fighter Group Tribute and History" web site by artist, Thierry Dekker. It is copyrighted( Copyright © 2002 by Thierry Dekker ) and should not be copied or reproduced in full or in part without the expressed written permission of Thierry Dekker. For more information on Thierry and his work, please email him at dekkerthierry@libertysurf.fr . ( Source Credit: Theirry Dekker collection)
1st Lt. Warren S. Blodgett in his P-51D, WZ-X, s/n 44-72099, "Little Chic" flying in formation over East Anglia with Captain James M. Farmer in his a/c, WZ-H, s/n 44-15731, "Mischievous Nell". Captain Farmer was KIFA post VE Day. The black crew panel (not legible in this picture, but can be seen in the profile art, above) reads: " CC S/Sgt Allen Clapp; ACC Cpl. Thomas Stoker; ARM Cpl. Joseph Raths ". The five victory markings exclusively represent enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. Officially, Lt. Blodgett was given credits for four a/c destroyed and one damaged ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via Edward Briski, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1 )
After returning from a mission, WZ-X, s/n 44-72099, " Little Chic" gets swarmed over by 84th Fighter Squadron ground crewman in the dispersal area. "WZ-C" in the background is 2nd. Lt. Richard W. Taylor's a/c. Engine, flight controls, radio and armament were inspected in detail and repaired if necessary. A gas tanker truck(far right) waits to re-fuel "WZ-C". ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via USAF, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1 )
This page was last revised on 7 / 28 / 04
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