[mustangdriver]

I don't think so. I know they said that there was an issue like that, but it was with just one of his kills. I thought in the long run, they proved he was right. I still love his quote"Just show me a hero, and I will prove he is a bum."

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I heard a rumor around the museum, that they are going to raise the remains of Gentile's P-51 Shangra La.

After the crash landing, It was pushed into a lake. It was not a total wreck. Should be interesting.

Should be very interesting indeed - conjuring (arguably THE most famous) P.51 out of thin air !!!!!

Sorry MustangDriver, but Starman352 is (apparently) right on this one.

I took an intense interest on this, since Speed & Power mag done a large 4-5 page article on the 'deadly duo' (Gentile & Godfrey) back in the mid -seventies. I then made a nice 'weathered' 1/32 Revell kit of Shangri-La (as a 19 year old), & entered it in a Shaftsbury Society Eisteddford/competition - & won first place with it (against, in my opinion several better models, but it impressed the judges !).
Sadly a mate of mine accidently trod on the canopy, so with no replacement, we ended up using it as (.22 Rifle) target practice .

That 'Shangri-La' in the lake story/legend, often surfaces & gets aircraft enthusiasts all worked up - the legend persists to this day !
I used to regularly ride my beloved Suzuki G.S.1000 (the Motorcycle in my Avatar) past the base (Debden in Essex) on the B.184 road - & be fully aware of it's Legendary status as home base for many of the U.S.A.A.F.'s
most famous pilots in the E.T.O. (Blakeslee,Goodson,Hofer,McColpin & the above 'Duo', etc), so with my knowledge of the 4th, I've often kept tabs on the legend/story that appears to have no substance.

Starman quoted Wade Meyer from his article on Gentile's log......

I'd like to point out W.M.'s excellent web-page that contains some truly excellent/outstanding photo's & detailed info' on 'Shangri-La' itself, INCLUDING shot's of her buzzing the field on 4th Apr '44 - & her terminal CRASH DAMAGE shot's, (from several different angles, nine days later)......

http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id38.html

Titled " Debden 2002, Part III "

I reckon anyone interested in P.51's will find it interesting & informative.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Aircrafty

I know it's so unlike me to cause an arguement but hasn't it been proved that Pappy was full of BS and most of his claims weren't supported.

I know what Pappy would say to that! #&%$@*&#!

[mustangdriver]

I would have to say I believe you guysoon the whole Gentile thing, this was something I heard at the museum as pure Gossip. As for Boyington, he would probably try and wrestle you after a comment like that.

[Hornchurch]

Whaddya reckon on those (literally) cracking photo's on that link ??????

[mustangdriver]

There were some great pics. Some of those I have never seen before. The ones of the wreck make me cry. Just think you might have been able to walk into the Air Force Museum and see that airplane on display, had he not done that.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Just for one min....Think how Gentile felt after he did that..
JP

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by planenuts

Why isn't Snoopy on the list

Did he fight in WW II as well?....I thought he was strictly a WW I 'Camel' jockey.

[mustangdriver]

You would have to feel pretty bad. That airplane went through all of that with him, and then to end up like that, none the less because you were messing around. Ted Lawson said it best when he said that he was stnading there on the beach in China. His leg all shredded. bangs, bruises, and cuts all over, and all he could do was cry because he was looking out at the ocean, and could see the twin rudders of the Ruptured Duck sticking up out of the water. He said it was just an airplane, but we were all so damned attached to that ship.

[planenuts]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

Did he fight in WW II as well?....I thought he was strictly a WW I 'Camel' jockey.

You didn't know? He flew under an alias in WWII. Top secret missions. The world owes a debt of gratitude to him.