A P-51 Mustang named “Man O’ War”, of the 339th Fighter Group based at Fowlmere. This P-51 has bombs affixed beneath the wings. The man in the left of the picture is the runway control officer. Mustangs would take-off from the grass runway in pairs .Once assembled; the group would head for the rendezvous with the bombers they were assigned to escort. In order to save time (and therefore fuel) in completing this, the 339th had an experienced fighter pilot would stand beside the runway signalling to each new pair of aircraft it was safe to take-off. The flagman wore a colourful striped jacket and a white baseball cap to assist spotting him.
Handwritten on slide:"man O' War being waved off Fowlmere pyjama jacket 8/44 with bombs James G. Robinson"
Unknown author<span style="display: none;">Unknown author</span>
Taken in 1944 (Second World War)
<p><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2676">http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2676</a>
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<td>This photograph <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/2676">FRE 5956</a> comes from the collections of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/">Imperial War Museums</a>.
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