P-51B 4312451 "Peggy" AKA "Live Bait"

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4312451 Bait Bob Clayton Gil Gross Kelly Live Lt. P-51B Peggy Stephens Talbot
Bomberguy
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  • Added: 22-Jun-08

Note, the pilot close up is of Bob Stephens (not Gil Talbot), a Flight leader and Ace with the 355th Sq. This footage may actually be the day he became an ace.

I believe Gil Talbot is the pilot climbing out of "Peggy" at around 1:46

This aircraft was originally issued to 1st Lt. Gil Talbot who named it "Peggy". When Talbot received a new P-51B, 4312451 was passed on to Gross. Gross was once asked by his fellow pilots to fly at an altitude to attract enemy planes. He responded by asking "What do you want, live bait?" Thus the name on the nose of this aircraft.

Captain Clayton Kelly Gross flew P-51B Mustang "Live Bait", GQ-I (312451), when he was assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, 9th USAAF, based in Boxted, England. He completed two tours with the 354th FG, and flew 105 combat missions. He shot down six enemy fighters, including an ME-262 on April 14, 1945. He was awarded the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 16 Air Medals.

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Comments on

P-51B 4312451 "Peggy" AKA "Live Bait"

15 Comments | Add Comment
  • so beautiful and ...

    so beautiful and full of feelings
    both for ww2 airplanelovers and others
    thanks
    this is art !

    greetings from norway

    By legebakkenb [Affiliate User] 1221810772 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Wingdoss, Dad was ...

    Wingdoss, Dad was in the MTO, the 9th which became the 15th, based 1st in Lybia then up into Italy.

    By 1236bigcat [Affiliate User] 1220618745 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • This footage was ...

    This footage was great. I have my own USAAF collection featuring most of the gear these guys are wearig with the exception of the 'chutes and A2 jackets - both seriously cost these days. I take it all on the road in the UK to museums and airshows.

    By Wingdoss [Affiliate User] 1220613173 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Did your father ...

    Did your father serve in the ETO?

    By Wingdoss [Affiliate User] 1220612968 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Unfortunately ...

    Unfortunately Keeevan, I jumped twice FROM the strut of a Cessna, recalling, was it a 172 perhaps? Anyway it was in 1978 and I used the old round chutes, maybe about 32' diameter. I broke my ankle on the 2nd 'sport' jump.
    My WW2 B-24 Liberator crewman father said afterwards with little sympathy,
    "Don't tell me you jumped from a perfectly GOOD airplane. I thought I raised you BETTER than that!"
    A bonafide air warrior, HE was not really trained to land in his parachute all that well. ;-)

    By 1236bigcat [Affiliate User] 1218759503 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • jump in a cessna ...

    jump in a cessna and youll feel just like a seagull

    By keeevan [Affiliate User] 1218748949 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • How beautiful old ...

    How beautiful old black and white can be in song ... every body should see and feel a sharp shooter & bomber, guy! I kinda wanna fly ... but I'm no seagull.

    By 1236bigcat [Affiliate User] 1218321377 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Check the video I ...

    Check the video I sent you, it's also posted as a response to THIS video.. :)

    By KurtGnu [Affiliate User] 1217111015 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • The shot of the 3 ...

    The shot of the 3 ground crew working on the P-51B from the right are Lt Chuck Gumm's crew of "My Toni" Sgt Lippoff-armorer, Sgt Seeger-asst crew chief and SSgt Leonard-crew chief.
    Gil Talot never flew or shared GQ+I Live Bait/Peggy. The Peggy on this a/c refers to the crew chief's (Sgt Smith) wife named Peggy.
    Gil Talbot P-51B and P-51D were GQ+P and named Peggy/Deacon. The portrait shot of Gross is a cropped version of the original which showed also Talbot and Jim Kenyon.

    By Fugari [Affiliate User] 1216685464 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • How fantastic that ...

    How fantastic that you would take the time to put together this footage...The p51 was a great addition to the R.A.F`s spits and hurris...Mustang Forever..P47`s...

    By coolpilot007 [Affiliate User] 1215713685 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • The pilot with the ...

    The pilot with the question mark is Captain Bob Stephens, plane code GQ-S and plane was. named "KILLER". He became squadron leader of the 355th Fighter Squadron

    By pmg354 [Affiliate User] 1215129579 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Thanks, I'll take ...

    Thanks, I'll take your word for it. I added his name to the tags

    By Bomberguy [Affiliate User] 1214540735 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • It definitely looks ...

    It definitely looks like Bob Stephens, an ace from the 355th FS, 354th FG.

    A photo of him is on page 84 of the new Steve Blake book: The Pioneer Mustang Group.

    By flashframe1966 [Affiliate User] 1214498825 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Great Clip! I am ...

    Great Clip!

    I am think the man is Bob Stephens of the 354th Fighter Group.

    I will confirm this when I get home from work!

    By flashframe1966 [Affiliate User] 1214447888 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I don't know where ...

    I don't know where you get this stuff.. but it's TREMENDOUS!!!!!!!!
    WOW!!!! Thanks so much

    By davisgloff [Affiliate User] 1214360921 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
15 Comments | Add Comment