HiRes P51D-5-NA Mustang "Hurry Home Honey" s/n 44-13586
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History of "Hurry Home Honey" and it's pilot Capt.Richard Peterson:

P51D-15-NA "C5-T" of the 357th.Fighter Group, 364th.Fighter Squadron
stationed at Leiston AAF Station 373, England (Circa:October 1944)
This "Hurry Home Honey" was the second of three Mustangs flown by Capt.Richard Peterson. 
Each of Capt.Peterson's aircraft carried the same name which was inspired by 
the way his wife concluded her letters to him while he was overseas.
This Mustang was one of the earlier versions of the P51D which did not have the dorsel fillet
applied in front of the vertical stablizer. 
Typical of all natural metal Mustangs recieved by the 357th. Fighter Group at this time
Capt.Peterson's P51D was field painted Olive Drab Green applied to the upper portion of the fuselage
which continued to the vertical and horizontal tail sections.
While the rest of the aircraft remained natural metal.
At this time "Hurry Home Honey" shows fourteen of the total 15.5 victories Capt.Peterson
achieved by the end of WW2. This score made him the fourth highest Ace of the 357th.Fighter Group.
As a member of the 364th. he participated in the following historic missions.
'Operation Overlord' as top cover for the D-Day invasion of Normany 
'Operation Frantic' stuttle missions to the USSR in the summer of 1944 
and providing top cover support of the ill-conceived 'Operation Market Garden'
in the Netherlands in the fall of that same year 1944. 
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General Historical notes of the 357th.FG and Mustang "Hurry Home Honey" s/n 44-13586:

The 6-50cal.gunned Mustangs with the new 'K-14' Gyroscopic sights began arriving at frontline squadrons
in late June 1944. Initailly the 357th. was stationed at Raydon AF and was serving with the 9th.USAAF
until they were transferred the the 8th.USAAF and station at their permanent home base of Leiston.
The 357th.FG was the first unit within the 8th.Fighter Command to adopt the SD110 squadron codes, 
ie: letter/numeral combination. Another irregularity that set the 357th.FG apart from it's sister units
was the absence of the 'Invasion Strips' to the top pain of the main wings.
Contrary to the 8th.FC's directive, these top 'Strips' were never applied 
and the single white UK/QIM strip remained. Just how this came to pass is uncertain today.
However, it is highly likely that such a course of action was an arbitary decision at Group level.
For which, it would appear, that the 357th.FG recieved an exemption from the 8th.Fighter Command. 
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Skinner's Notes:

This skin was developed from B&W photo plate profile found in
squadron/signal publication's '357th Fighter Group' by James Roeder
Historical notes were compiled from;
'357th Fighter Group' by James Roeder
'Battle Colours' - Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force
in World War II by Robert A.Watkins

Skin created for Emil's ETO 42-45 Campaign by David"Skylark"Phillips

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Modder's Notes: 

This skin folder contains a batch file, for converting tpc to pcx 
for those who want to try their hand at skinning. Simply place this file and the accompaning file, 
gpmTpc2Pcx.exe, in your folder containing the tpc files and execute. 
This batch file is courtesy of John "Chompy" Masters who also created the 3d model. Much thanks to you John!


USE.
Simply extract all the files into your EAW folder, or install into your skin manager program 
as it's instructions reccomend. To uninstall, just delete the files listed below.

Thanks to all those who helped with the original P-51D HR model, 
Salty for the great textures which make up the base skin and the MEX, for the aircraft/pilot info 
at the top of the page, and for great construction and skinning detail help. 
JWC for the wide view armour idea,
Peregrine for the Deflection gunsight idea.
Migge for the cockpit and guage textures
Sorry, thanks and S! to anyone I forgot.

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Note: Skinner's Remarks
Although my part of this project was to create the skin of "Hurry Home Honey".
I was able to use the original pcx. and 3dx. files
of this early version P51D Mustang from Mr.Johnson 
Sandbagger Host Site
      
http://eawhostsite.0catch.com/salty.html        

"Hurry Home Honey" would not have been possible if it weren't for the brilliant creative efforts of; 
John "Chompy" Masters for creating the original HiRes P-51D model....
Jeff"Salty"Salter for the great textures which make up the base skin and the MEX file....
Mr Johnson's for creating this Early version of the P51D.... 
JWC for the wide view armour idea....
Peregrine for the Adjusted Reticules K-14 gunsight....
Migge for the cockpit and guage textures....
Working Flaps were created by Ray'Rotton'Otton....

My thanks to them all....

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Fly her well....and enjoy

Cheers mates
David"Skylark"Phillips


