Pilot’s View D-Day from the Cockpit

In a scene reminiscent of D-Day, two P-51 Mustangs are dressed in the colors of the 361st Fighter Group, the “Yellowjackets.” Mark Watt flies “Lou IV” and wingman Chuck Greenhill pilots “Geraldine” over Lake Butte des Morts, Wisconsin. (Photo by David Leininger)

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In his memoir, Lt. Col. Richard E. Turner recalled D-Day for the Ninth Air Force’s 354th Fighter Group at Maidstone, Kent. He described the “Pioneer Mustangs’” rare D-Day missions: night escort of troop carrier aircraft and gliders. Since the 25th of May, the group had been informed that it was on a six-hour alert status, and it had been assigned two officers from General Patton’s Third Army to stay with us and set up liaison...

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