Late Flt Lt Phil Massey photographs the P‑51D Bald Eagle (44‑73029, N51JB) on the flightline. A post‑war Nicaraguan veteran now flown by Jim Beasley, it remains one of the best‑known airworthy Mustangs, carrying the Eighth Air Force’s Merlin‑powered legacy forward.
#P51D #Mustang #BaldEagle #Warbird #AviationHistory #EighthAirForce #MerlinPowered #WWIIAviation #AirworthyWarbird #JimBeasley #PhilMassey #AviationPhotography #ClassicFighters #RestoredWarbirds #Flightline

The P‑51D Mustang Big Beautiful Doll on the grass flightline carries its polished metal finish and the iconic checkerboard nose of Col. J.D. Landers’ 357th FG aircraft. This is a post‑war Mustang restored in the BBD scheme, preserving the look of one of the Eighth Air Force’s most recognisable escort fighters.
#P51 #Mustang #BigBeautifulDoll #Warbird #AviationHistory #WWIIAviation #357thFG #EighthAirForce #Airshow #WarbirdPhotography #AviationHeritage #CAF #MerlinPowered

#OperationThunderclap was on #ThisDayInHistory in 1945 -- 1000 #B17s of the US #EighthAirForce raided #Berlin, killing about 3000 and making about 120,000 people homeless. In all during #WWII, ~70,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the city and half its population was displaced.