Marvelous Mustang at Sywell
The Mustang that arrived at Air Leasing / Ultimate Warbirds at Sywell Aerodrome (UK) on 7 November 2023, has made a public appearance in its new livery. The warbird is 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).
The fighter has emerged in the colours of Mustang ‘44-15152’ with code ‘QI-T’. Jersey Jerk was flown by Maj. Donald J. Strait. He was 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 in 1943. Despite excellent leadership it had the highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of all Eighth Air Force fighter groups.
It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for actions on 17, 18, and 23 September 1944 for support of Operation Market-Garden airborne forces in the Netherlands. After the end of WW II the unit returned to Camp Kilmer (NJ) and was inactivated on 10 November 1945.
Photo: Ultimate Warbird Flights and (photo Major Strait) USAF ANG