Big Blue Eyes

At this point, with full unit markings not yet applied, GIs in China use a decontamination unit to wash down the North American P-51 #42-106971 nicknamed "Big Blue Eyes." August 7, 1944. The "Mustang" fighter and pilot were lost on January 14, 1945 while assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron (Provisional), 3rd Fighter Group (Provisional), CACW, with 1LT Van N...

1st Lt. Van Nelson Moad, Jr. in a group image of American flyers in Karachi, August, 1944. Born March 6, 1922, from Nampa, Idaho. He was a member of 8th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Fighter Group, CACS, and disappeared on a fighter sweep mission from Laohekou to Hankou flying P-51C #42-106971,"Big Blue Eyes," dated January 14, 1945. Declared dead January 15...