Just a nice (warbird) picture

Our local man-on-the-spot, Nigel Harrison, took this wonderful photo of P-51 Mustang Jersey Jerk during a night shoot at Sywell Aerodrome (UK) on 16 March 2024. This Mustang was imported from Australia by Air Leasing / Ultimate Warbirds, arriving at Sywell Aerodrome on 7 November 2023. The warbird is not an original North American built P-51, but a license built Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) CA-18 Mk.21 (1435) that used to fly as VH-MFT Snifter. (See previous posts on Scramble here and here).

Air Leasing made the decision to repaint it in the colours of Mustang ‘44-15152’ with code ‘QI-T’ which was adorned with the name Jersey Jerk. It was flown by Maj. Donald J. Strait, a pilot of the USAAF 361st Fighter Squadron. The 361st FS, together with 359th and 360th, formed the 356th Fighter Group. During World War II the group was an Eighth Air Force fighter unit stationed in England, and was assigned to RAF Martlesham Heath, east of Ipswich, in 1943.

Photo: Nigel Harrison