File:192nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D Mustangs, low level formation flight over volcanic terrain in Iceland.jpg
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Description192nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D Mustangs, low level formation flight over volcanic terrain in Iceland.jpg |
English: North American F-51D-25-NA Mustangs of the Iceland Defense Force (IDF) in a low level formation flight of eight aircraft over volcanic terrain in Iceland in late 1952 in the vicinity of Keflavik AB.
One of the last overseas deployments of a F-51D Mustang unit by the U.S. Air Force was in late 1952 when 25 aircraft of the 131st Fighter-Bomber Group (FBG), were assigned to the Iceland Defense Force (IDF) at Keflavik air base in Iceland. Most of the 25 Mustangs came from the 192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron (FBS), Nevada Air National Guard (NEV-ANG), with fillers from the 110th FBS, Missouri Air National Guard (MO-ANG) and 170th FBS, Illinois Air National Guard (ILL-ANG), as no squadron in the 131st had the originally required number of 35 airplanes to be readied for the mission. The full complement of fighters was operational at the Iceland base in an alert posture by September 15th 1952. On this occasion the IDF planned to announce its presence in Iceland with a mock battle demonstration in front of Icelandic government officials and members of the press on the 19th of September 1952. However due to weather on that day the Mustangs could not participate so that only US ground force divisions were present. Consequently it was decided to hold a separate solo demonstration of airpower on the 24th of September. On that day the Mustangs flew impressive low level mock ground support missions, dropping napalm on imaginary enemy positions, without further weaponry usage. (Source: Quotes from original IDF-documentation via e-mail from Friðþór Eydal, expert on WWII history in Iceland) According to written personal notes from Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen, flight chief, line chief, and quality control inspector of the F-51 Mustangs stationed at Keflavik airbase in 1952, the deployment procedure was as follows: "P/F-51 assignment, Iceland During august 27, 1952, 35 Mustangs were readied for launch from George AFB, Victorville, California with destination og Keflavik, Iceland by 1 September, 1952. The aircraft were prepared in A/W T.O. 00-25-4 for overseas transfer and modified with APX-6 transponders to provide the latest IFF capability. Two groups of 17 and 18 aircraft were flown across the U.S. in a northern and southern routing through bases coordinated for en-route support. Two C-119 aircraft were manned with 15 man crews to follow the flights and repair ant turn and launch the Mustangs at each base. Intend was to reach the east coast with 30 aircraft and proceed on with the best 25 for the final destination. The serials listed below were in place in Keflavik and on alert by 15 September of 1952. The aircraft were assigned to the 192 Ftr Bmr Sqdn. (TAC) with support crews made up from three squadrons of the 146 Ftr Bmr Wg, the 178th, 186th and 190th. Serial:
44-72708
44-73788
44-74482
44-74880
44-74845
44-74717
44-73769
44-74586
44-74963
44-72843
44-74377
44-74522
44-84769
44-74382*
44-73996
44-73826
44-74870
44-73409
44-74317
44-74811
44-84834
44-74975
44-74959
44-74368
45-11364 The aircraft served until April, 1953 and were replaced by F-94B interceptors assigned to the 82nd FIS. The Mustang unit designation changed to the 436th Ftr Sqdn on 1 December, 1952. The Mustangs were flown to England, (Renfrew) and transferred to AMC at Brookley field, Mobile Alabama and eventually to Norton AFB Sam Bernardino California were they were scrapped in May of 1954. *) 44-74382 was left at BW-1 (Narssasuak, Greenland) enroute for an engine change which was completed in one week. A B-26 Navigation aircraft accompanied the Mustangs on all the overwater legs and the later pick-up of 382. The final jet equipped unit remaining in Iceland was designated the 57th FIS. And equipped with F-89C interceptors in October of 1954. The 435th returned to George AFB and was established as a regular Air Force Squadron equipped with F-86F aircraft. Except for a few remaining on active duty, the three support units returned to Air National Status. During this period, the Mustang units in Korea were converted to jet aircraft with the mustangs being assigned to the ROK air Force and these units along with the Icelandic units were the last overseas assignment of the Mustang with the USAF. This form checked 15 April, 2008. R. W. Gruenhagen." NB. At the time of the arrival of the Mustang unit in Keflavik on 1st of September 1952 the unit was part of the 131st Fighter-Bomber Group FBG. The Mustang unit designation changed to the 436th FS on the 1st of December 1952. The designation was changed again to 435th FBS on the 2nd of December 1952 and remained so until the end of the Iceland deployment in the spring of 1953.
1. Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen: "Mustang – The Story of the P-51 Fighter" Arco, N.Y., Revised edition, 1976, ISBN-10: 0668039124, ISBN-13: 978-0668039123 Sleeve notes from his book state the following about the author:
"Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen, USAF (Retired) began his military service in 1947. His long and active career included the 186th Fighter Squadron, SAC, TAC, and the Icelandic Defense Force. He is a member of the Air Force Association, the American Aviation Historical Society, and the Association of P-51 Historians and Enthusiasts. He serves as consultant and advisor with matters related to historic aircraft during the World War II. He is the author of Mustang: The Story of the P-51 Fighter and a well-known expert on the P-51. Among his numerous decorations and awards, Col. Gruenhagen received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, and the Texas State Meritorious Service Award."
2. Jeffrey L. Ethell: "P-51 Mustang, A Documentary History", Jane's Publishing, UK 1981, ISBN 10: 0710600704, ISBN 13: 9780710600707 3. Nicholas M. Williams: "Aircraft of the United States' Military Air Transport Service, 1948–1966", Midland Publishing Ltd. UK, 1999, ISBN-10: 1 85780 087 7, ISBN-13: 978-1857800876 4. David W. Menard: "USAF Plus Fifteen: A Photo History 1947-62", Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., USA, 2004, ISBN-10: 0887404839, ISBN-13: 978-088740483
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Date | |
Source | USAF Archive. Personal notes from Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen via Baldjbald |
Author | United States Air Force |
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current | 12:17, 26 December 2020 | 2,953 × 2,215 (648 KB) | Baldjbald (talk | contribs) | Uploaded a work by United States Air Force from USAF Archive. Personal notes from Col. Robert W. Gruenhagen via Baldjbald with UploadWizard |
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- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, lineup at Keflavik AFB, Iceland.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72197, 44-74317, 44-84857.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-72843, 44-74482, 44-74880, 44-73788.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-73822.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang, sn. 44-74959.jpg
- File:192d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, North American F-51D-30-NA Mustang, sn. 44-74880.jpg
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