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Lou IV Marking Update
P-51D Mustang
by Craig Quattlebaum
HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron
Col. Thomas J.J. Christians 'LOU IV' is well known and much discussed in
nearly every type of group interested in aviation. What was not known was there
was another name on the starboard side and it wasn't the same as the port side
of the aircraft.
Several flying warbirds over the years painted in this scheme have included
'LOU IV' on the starboards side and one reknowned artist included it in a very
desirable painting.
A couple of years ago as I began putting together an anthology of the 361st
veterans one of them sent me a picture that really made me quite happy to say
the least.
It was another 'flight of four' of 361st P-51s, this time with Col.Christian
flying the number 4 position behind three 376th squadron (E9) P-51s and taken
from the starboard side of the flight. The pic in this article is cropped out of
that picture.
Not only does this show the name 'ATHELENE' but also the correct camo pattern
for that side of the aircraft. The name comes from Col.Christians crew chief, S/sgt.Pete
Army for either his mother or sister according to my group sorces.
 I made
a post about this newly found pic and was contacted by a decal maker about 3
years ago. I sent him info but nothing ever materialised and I never heard from
him again. I had basicaly given up on getting a decal made for it when I was
contacted by Don Fenton.
Don wanted to do it even though he was moving away from the decal business so
I sent him the information. Don sent me a proof to look at and after trading a
few notes he hit on something that compared very close.
I find that Don did a great job considering that the picture he was working
from was not a sharply focused photo.
Here is the results of Dons effort and printed by Mike Grant.
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