Crash Landings: USAAF P-51 Mustangs, England, 1944-45

These U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) photos were not released for publication until the middle of 1946, a year after the war in Europe officially ended.  One reason for the late release of the photos is that many did not begin arriving ‘state side’ until the end of 1945, remaining with their respective units until the units returned to the U.S. or were disbanded.

U.S. Army Air Force photo.

P51 (36845), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 18JUL1944.

USAAF photo.

Personnel retrieve the body of the pilot of P51 #44-14034, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 30JUL1944.

USAAF photo.

Bent props caused by crash landing, after a ground attack run over enemy territory, Summer 1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #41-3940, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 16AUG1944.

USAAF photo.

P-51 ‘Hanger Queen’ gets scrapped by the 353rd Fighter Group, 04SEP1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #14381, 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 11SEP1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #13891, 364th Fighter Group Base, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 11OCT1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Rugged Rebel’ (44-13686), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 17OCT1944.

USAAF photo.

8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 03NOV1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘G.I. Buzz Buggy’ (14703), 364th Fighter Group Base, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 09NOV1944.

USAAF photo.

Probably not caused by a crash landing, P51 ‘Frances Ann’ (44-13557), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 08DEC1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 #44-13933, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England,  17DEC1944.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Dana Kay’ (44-11567), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 15JAN1945.

U.S. Army Air Force photo.

P51 (43-25066), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-365, Honnington, England, 22APR1945.

U.S. Army Air Force photo.

P51 ‘Lucky Leaky II’ (2103363), 353rd Fighter Group, crashed on English base, 02MAY1945.

USAAF photo.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Boogie’s Burner’ (44-14190), 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England, 16MAY1945.

USAAF photo.

P51 ‘Butch 3rd’ (414774), 353rd Fighter Group, on its English base, 24JUL1945.

Vehicle I-D:  APACHE TO MUSTANG