P-51D-15-NA s/n 44-15041 "Petie 3rd" flown by Lt. Col. John C. Meye, 352nd FG/487th FS
P-51D At first light on January 1,1945, John C. Meyer took off from Asch airfield in Belgium, leading the 352nd Fighter Group from his P-51D-15-NA “Petie 3rd”. He was convinced the Germans would launch a surprise attack on this day against Allied advanced bases. He was right, and the group was barely airborne when the first German fighter-bombers arrived over their base. They were able to intercept and inflicted severe losses on the German.
Photo by Aleksey Lomov