The Blakeslee Mustang
Our Shark loses her teeth
Word is out and so it’s finally time to say goodbye to ‘The Shark’. Duxford based P-51D, G-SHWN, has recently rolled out of the stable in a handsome new colour scheme. We’ll certainly miss that big toothy nose, grinning at us from across the hangar floor! But as one chapter comes to a close, a new one begins…
Previously painted in 112 Squadron, Royal Air Force markings and carrying the prominent teeth strewn nose, it affectionately became known all through Europe as ‘The Shark’. After an enjoyable number of years chasing clouds in this toothy livery, the owner and pilot Shaun Patrick decided on a scheme change.
A stones throw away from the aircraft’s home base of Duxford is RAF Debden, formed during the Second World War for not only Eagle Squadron but also the 4th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force. It was decided to repaint the aircraft in the red nose scheme of the 4th Fighter Group and, with his famous link to both the Spitfire and the P-51, to personalise the aircraft to Colonel Donald ‘Don’ James Matthew Blakeslee.
The Scheme is simple but effective, it shows off the beautiful natural form of the P-51 without an over cluttering of markings or nose art, which Don Blakeslee didn’t apply to his aircraft. It was decided in the repainting process to make the scheme as authentic as possible, therefore the fuselage, tailplane and all flying controls, except for the rudder, are finished in an unpolished bare metal as a wartime example would have been. The wings are painted silver, as they would have left the factory, and the overall look is just as it would have been in 1944.
Final finishing in the hangars at Duxford Airfield included the addition of many small and fiddly stencils. Although a time consuming task to apply, it is these minor but authentic details which really finish the scheme off and help it gain a true believability in its portrayal of a 4th Fighter Group Aircraft.
The Mustang is maintained at our hangars by the Aircraft Restoration Company and is jointly operated by Aerial Collective and the Norwegian Spitfire Foundation. Setting off on a Summer’s evening patrol across the skies of East Anglia, it would have been a common sight and sound above the towns and villages in this area during 1944.
Images by George Romain
Published 30th June 2020
