Throttle Donated

The P-51B "Lucy Gal" project just took in a very generous donation from Mr. David Nichols. We received a P-51 Mustang Throttle Quadrant, in beautiful condition to boot! YOU can help to keep this project's momentum going by VOTING for it in the Pepsi Refresh project. You can vote via the post below this one. Thank you!

P-51 Mustang Throttle Quadrant

 

 

 

"If you've got the data plate...

...you've got the plane!" Here you go folks, the data plates for the P-51B "Lucy Gal." Now, all we need is the rest of the plane :-) 

Lucy Gal's Data Plates

Wish to donate and help out? Please do! Check out our campaign on "PleaseFund," an English crowd fund-raising site that has graciously accepted our project to it's site.

Our Video...

Check this out, the "Lucy Gal" project now has a promotional video! A special thanks to Aaron Gulian and Erik Kopp for volunteering their film-making prowess and producing this awesome video. We could not have done it without you guys! Pass this video on to your friends and family to help spread the word about this worthy project, thank you!

P-51B Mustang "Lucy Gal" Project from Aaron Gulian on Vimeo.

For more info. on Aaron Gulian and his film-making services, check out http://www.aarongulian.com.

"God Is My Co-Pilot"

Many of you aviation/WWII enthusiasts have heard of, or read, the book God Is MY Co-Pilot by Robert Lee Scott Jr. Scott was a member of the infamous "Flying Tigers," flying P-40s in defense of China even before the U.S officially entered the war. His famed book was even put up on the big screen in 1945.

Just recently, I was in touch with Leland Pennington's daughter, Cyrillia. She sent me a whole "treasure trove" of pictures and documents pertaining to her father that I had never seen before. Among these leafs of paper was a poem, written by Pennington, titled God Is My Co-Pilot. Leland wrote this during his time in the Aviation Club at Monroe High School in Rochester, NY. This was before he went off to war as a Tuskegee Airman.

This poem gives me a real feeling of connection with who Leland was, and also shows how strong his passion for flight was...

God Is My Co-Pilot

"Yes, I have climbed high into the sun

In a ship that carries only one.

Some, would say one and let it do.

But in my ship their's really two.

For God, is my co-pilot.

As you climb higher into the blue,

God looks down and smiles at you.

He guides the controls of my valiant ship,

And keeps me cool, lest I should slip.

For God, is my co-pilot.

It brings tears, to hear a pilot cry,

I'm earthbound no longer, I am in the sky.

I have no fear of getting back,

With him whispering at my back.

For God, is my co-pilot.

I wouldn't trade my plane,

For all earthly things.

As I ride close to him on silver wings.

So I'll go up high, high as I can.

Where he can lead me by the hand,

For God, is my co-pilot."

Leland Hedges Pennington

Aviation Studies, Monroe High School

Class of 1942

God Is My Co-Pilot will be placed on a plaque, along with Flight Officer Pennington's picture, will be mounted in "Lucy Gal" once construction allows. This whole poem really touched me, and I hope it did the same to you. Donate today and be sure to keep Leland Pennington's legacy alive and flying.

- Austin Hancock

P-51B "Lucy Gal" Project Coordinator

Pennington's H.S. Days

Before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps in 1942, Leland Pennington attended Monroe High School in Rochester, NY. Leland was known well over for his athletic ability and skill, numerous colleges offered him scholarships in fact! He opted to serve his country in the skies instead. 

Following are some pictures we recently discovered showing Pennington during his days at Monroe H.S. These images really give you a perspective of what Leland was like and how he lived doing what he loved.

Pennington on the Track team (front row, center)

Leland on the Basketball team (3rd in from left)

Leland Pennington's Monroe H.S. Degree

More on the "Last Mission"

As you may or may not know from reading this blog, F/O Leland H. Pennington was lost on April 21st, 1945 near Zadar, Croatia. He was flying back to base in Ramitelli, Italy after a successful bomber-escort mission over the Attang-Puchheim Marshalling Yard in Austria. Following are some links with more information on this mission, which was one of the deadliest in the "ETO" during World War II. (Click the text to go to the sites)


416th Bomb Group Mission Report


German Article on the Attnang-Puchheim Raid (Translated)

A Before and After photo of the Attnang-Puchheim M/Y Raid

First Piece to the P-51 Puzzle

      Hello friends! I just wanted to inform everyone that I have obtained the 1st part for my P-51B Project. I managed to find an original 35mm Lacker AN-N6 Gun Camera, with the Bell & Howell Lens. This camera was used on numerous fighter planes in WWII, including the P-51, to film the combat and confirm aerial and/or ground victories. These cameras are not easy to find, and I am lucky to have found such a good deal on it. So, one part down!

 

 

 

Pennington's Last Mission

On April 21st, 1945, Flight Officer Leland H. Pennington took off on an escort mission to the Attnang-Puchheim Marshall Yard in Austria. The mission was a complete success, however on the way home, Pennington reported he was "Sack-Timing Solo" (going back to base) and did not need a escort. This was the last anyone saw or heard Leland. With the documents I have acquired from the USAF Historical Agency at Maxwell AFB, I have been able to map out Pennington's final mission.

- Austin Hancock

Before the War...

Today I took a field trip to the Rochester Public Library to research the yearbooks of both Leland Pennington (Monroe High School) and Charles Price (Madison High.) I was successful in finding the pictures that Price mentioned to me during our meeting, and as promised, I will share them with you! Here goes...

Here is the "football star" Leland Pennington, #11 for Monroe H.S. Picture from 1941

Leland is tackled by best-friend Charley Price! (#10, Madison H.S)

Pennington's Senior Picture, 1941