GERRY ASHER COLLECTION

Gerry Asher's father, Pat Asher, was a crew chief with the 3625th Fighter Training Wing at Tyndall AFB outside of Panama City Florida during the early fifties. The 3625th flew P-51H and other Mustangs from 1950 to 1954 when they transitioned to jets and their Mustangs moved on to various Air National Guard units.

Notable to this story, Pat Asher's assigned P-51H is none other than 44-64195, which was formally with the 82nd Fighter Group at Grenier AAF in New Hampshire and flown by World War II Ace Claude Crenshaw. During that time 44-64195 carried the LOUISIANA HEATWAVE nose art and is the subject of the commemorative paint scheme on the P-51H on display at the Chanute Air Museum.

Gerry has been very gracious in allowing us to share his father's history and great photos here. Each photo carries Gerry's own captions and give great insights to operations at the 3625th and the dedicated men who kept the Mustangs flight ready and in the air.

Here is Pat Asher's 64-44195 in the livery of the 3625th FTW of the Air Training Command in the early 1950's. The Louisiana Heatwave markings are long gone and the plane now sports red wing tips and vertical stabilizer extension, and black exhaust stack fairings. Spinner is bare metal.

 

Special Thanks to Gerry Asher for allowing us to share his photos with the world!

 

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