PIERCE MCKENNON'S "RIDGE RUNNER III"
This is the most famous of several P-51D Mustangs used by Pierce McKennon while he was with the 335th Fighter Squadron. The nose art depicts an Arkansas "razorback" wild boar racing past two parachutes. The two parachutes refer to McKennon's two parachute jumps. The first time, on August 28, 1944, he was hit by flak near Niederbonn, France and bailed out safely. He was hid by the French Maquis for a month and returned to his unit on September 24, 1944. The second time he was shot down, attacking ground targets on March 8, 1945, his wingman, Lt. George Green, landed and flew him back to safety. McKennon was credited with 12 aerial victories at the end of the war, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre. He was killed in a flying accident on June 18, 1947.
Based on the following material :
Advertising |