P.51 'Etta Jeanne II unveiled at Duxford

[duxman]

Duxford Thursday 30/10/14. P.51D 'Etta Jeanne II was unveiled this morning at Duxford. More details and pictures to follow.

411631 DX 30/10/14 by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

Duxman

Flikr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/

[jimbob1194]

That is lovely. Excellent job. Really looking forward to the new plans for the AAM.

[DanO1978]

Stunning. Was this "Big Beautiful Doll" from the IWM London?

[WarbirdTails]

Wow! That is stunning, can see why they kept that under wraps!

[jimbob1194]

Stunning. Was this "Big Beautiful Doll" from the IWM London?

Correct.

[DanO1978]

Like the fact that it still looks "lived in" with some battered panels towards the tail especially.

[Pen Pusher]

P-51 Miss Velma is displaying at 3 o'clock as part of the unveiling event if it's not raining.

The pilot of the original Etta Jeanne II was being interviewed for TV at exactly the same time as he took of from Duxford in the original Etta Jeanne II 70 years ago.

Brian

[FTS]

I really like that! I'll take a trip over tomorrow to have a look at it.

[Pen Pusher]

FTS

You're really coming to see the quilt show.

Brian

[Rule 27]

Like the fact that it still looks "lived in" with some battered panels towards the tail especially.

Isn't it a replica though?

[DanO1978]

Like the fact that it still looks "lived in" with some battered panels towards the tail especially.

Isn't it a replica though?

Not as far as I know.

Don't forget there's another hanging in the AAM - not sure if that's the real deal.

[Rule 27]

That's the replica, got confused as both are/were coded WZ-x!

[Pen Pusher]

The one in the AAM is fibreglass and this one will replace it. The finish is as original as they could get from photographs from the time down to hand painted serial on the tail and the red stripe on nose checkers not being completed on one side.

Brian

[tankbuster81]

A beautiful looking aircraft,will make a beeline for this when i visit on the 9th.

[hmeasures]

How long will it be 'on the ground' before it gets hung from the ceiling...? I quite fancy a gander next time I'm in.

[Pen Pusher]

It will be 'hung' after the AAM refurbishment next year.

Brian

[duxman]

A few further pictures following the unveiling this morning. The P.51 which was painted as Big Beautiful Doll for many years at Duxford has been repainted in the colours of Etta Jeanne II which was the P.51K mount of Capt Huie Lamb of the American Air Force who was based at Duxford during WW2. His original P.51 named Etta Jeanne 44-63286 was forced to ditch in the North Sea on the 29/12/44 on his first mission from which Huie was lucky to survive.

Etta Jeanne II by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

Etta Jeanne II by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

Etta Jeanne II by AJCDuxman, on Flickr

Duxman

More images here from today - Flikr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/64209520@N05/

[Yak 11 Fan]

Looks lovely, will be a great shame to see it hanging from the ceiling. I must get to Duxford before they hang it up

[AlexC]

Looks superb. I've often wondered if these preserved Mustangs with such highly polished surfaces were authentic, but there is a photo in the Osprey Aviation Elite Units '332nd Fighter Group - Tuskegee Airmen' book showing a crew chief washing the fuselage of a P-51B or C, and his face is very noticeably reflected in the suface, so it must be authentic at least in some cases.

[jalfrezi]

It's a shame they never bother to inform Friends of Duxford members about these events, I would have liked to have been there.

[Mark V]

Looks superb. I've often wondered if these preserved Mustangs with such highly polished surfaces were authentic

But this one clearly is not 'highly polished'..

[st24]

It will be 'hung' after the AAM refurbishment next year.

Brian

Does this mean that the inmates will be outside for some time??

[Pen Pusher]

Sort of. Most will be stored in Air Space for the duration and the last I heard the B-52/B-29 will be moved in and out of the AAM as necessary.

Brian

[Smog Monster]

Sort of. Most will be stored in Air Space for the duration and the last I heard the B-52/B-29 will be moved in and out of the AAM as necessary.

Brian

It'd be nice if the opportunity could be taken to add a few of them to the flight line walk for Legends next year... B29, B17, B25 etc.

[Pen Pusher]

We've suggested a one day photo shoot with the three Boeing's (B-17, B-29, B-52) with replies along the lines of can't do that, to difficult, that costs money. Mind you the hierarchy at Duxford has changed since we originally suggested it. Good luck with getting them on the flight line for any air show.

Brian