{"id":1603351,"date":"2025-09-12T17:28:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T15:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/armahobbynews.pl\/?p=1603351"},"modified":"2025-09-13T19:39:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T17:39:05","slug":"70070-the-silver-mustang-old-crow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/armahobbynews.pl\/en\/blog\/2025\/09\/12\/70070-the-silver-mustang-old-crow\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silver Mustang \u201cOld Crow\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The P-51D Mustang \u201cOld Crow\u201d was the personal aircraft of Clarence \u201cBud\u201d Anderson from the 363rd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group. Delivered in natural metal finish, it was soon repainted in RAF colors \u2014 Dark Green on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the undersides<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Why RAF paints? Contrary to a common belief, the decision was not due to technical shortcomings of U.S. Olive Drab (OD). During World War II, every U.S. military unit operated under a Table of Organization and Equipment (T.O.&E.)<\/strong>, which listed both primary and authorized substitute supplies. If original U.S. paints were not available, units could officially use approved substitutes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

P-51D Mustang Old Crow in camouflage, photo Jim Anderson via Jim Roeder<\/em><\/p>\n

When American units arrived at RAF bases, such as Leiston (home of the 357th FG), they often found stocks of RAF paint left behind. Young pilots and ground crews also admitted a simpler reason: they liked the RAF colors better than U.S. Olive Drab<\/em>. Several even decorated their aircraft to resemble their pre-war cars \u2014 with painted red wheel hubs or white sidewalls on tires. Thus, the repainting in RAF colors was as much about availability and authorization as it was about style and personal taste. Importantly, not every aircraft was repainted \u2014 the decision varied from unit to unit and pilot to pilot.<\/p>\n

Other groups also applied RAF paints: for example, the 78th FG repainted many of its P-47D bubbletops in RAF Dark Green and Sky Blue. There are also reports of RAF Dark Green and Medium Sea Grey being used on some P-38s in the 8th and 9th AF.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2018Bud\u2019 Anderson i jego ‘Old Crow’ cz. I<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n