Ot: Which Plane Is This?

[Freycinet]

I just know the lady is called Vera Strodl, but what plane is it?

[Finkeren]

I remember seeing something about her at a museum in Fyn, interesting story hers, but that plane really puzzles me. She was supposed to have flown recon Spits, and that plane is obviously a recon plane (the camera right behind the headrest) but that canopy? It looks like an early P-51 if anything, but not sure.

 

 

Yep! Cross checked with some pictures. Definately a P-51A recon.

[NZTyphoon]

That's a Mustang I, Ia or II:

 

 

[Finkeren]

It might just be the lighting on the photo, but the camouflage looks to have very high contrast between the light and dark colors, kinda like what the sand/brown camo used in North Africa looks like in black/white.

 

Do we know if Vera ever flew in Tunesia?

[Freycinet]

I did some research: it is the F-6 photo recon version of early P-51s. Exactly the one in Typhoons pic. Thanks for your input!

Now my question is: where the RAF photo recon Mustangs also known as F-6? Or instead called Mustang Mk. I, Ia or II?

[Wulf]

I remember seeing something about her at a museum in Fyn, interesting story hers, but that plane really puzzles me. She was supposed to have flown recon Spits, and that plane is obviously a recon plane (the camera right behind the headrest) but that canopy? It looks like an early P-51 if anything, but not sure.

 

 

Yep! Cross checked with some pictures. Definately a P-51A recon.

 

 

How do you mean, "she was supposed to have flown recon Spits"?  She was a ferry pilot in the ATA , she would have flown all sorts of aircraft.  

 

If you're suggesting she was actually a RAF PRU pilot, flying combat operations, I'd find that very hard to believe.  

[Finkeren]

How do you mean, "she was supposed to have flown recon Spits"?  She was a ferry pilot in the ATA , she would have flown all sorts of aircraft.  

 

If you're suggesting she was actually a RAF PRU pilot, flying combat operations, I'd find that very hard to believe.  

 

No, no don't misunderstand me. I never said she was a combat pilot. Just that I'd only heard that she flew Spits to and from their operational squadrons.

 

I might have to do a little reading about her. I only remember what I saw at that museum a couple years back.

[69th_chuter]

I did some research: it is the F-6 photo recon version of early P-51s. Exactly the one in Typhoons pic. Thanks for your input!

Now my question is: where the RAF photo recon Mustangs also known as F-6? Or instead called Mustang Mk. I, Ia or II?

 

F-6 was strictly a U.S designation.  I believe the RAF designation was just Mustang (appropriate number here) or optionally PR Mustang (ditto) but usually I've seen just the Mustang moniker in reference to the PRs.

[Freycinet]

Thanks Chuter that makes sense. Now if anybody can tell me WHICH Mark of the RAF PR Mustang she is sitting in that would be nice.

 

Btw, Vera lived until last year, died at the ripe old age of 96. Was a flying missionary post-war.