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William Whisner - P-51 Ace from Shreveport

Posted on 1/2/24 at 8:42 am
Posted by shspanthers
Nashville, TN
Member since Sep 2007
769 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 8:42 am
Found this IG and Youtube channel that featured some guncam footage of one of the highest scoring P-51 aces of WWII. Guy named William Whisner (ETA: from Shreveport). Figured someone on here probably knew him/his family and would find it interesting.

Druid_Works Youtube

Wiki page
This post was edited on 1/2/24 at 9:04 am
Posted by TigerGman
Center of the Universe
Member since Sep 2006
11223 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 8:55 am to
Odd the 190's didn't drop their external fuel tanks.
Posted by Lonnie Utah
Utah!
Member since Jul 2012
23989 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 8:55 am to
Cool video, but the overdubbed gun sounds bugged me. The P51 gun cam was originally 16mm film without sound.
This post was edited on 1/2/24 at 8:58 am
Posted by lnomm34
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
12614 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 9:02 am to
Bad arse! I have been enjoying military history recently. It is fascinating learning about the men who fought for our country and their backgrounds. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by shspanthers
Nashville, TN
Member since Sep 2007
769 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 9:02 am to
quote:

Cool video, but the overdubbed gun sounds bugged me. The P51 gun cam was originally 16mm film without sound.


Yeah, there's one of some Dauntless dive bombers hitting Truk lagoon and you can hear an air raid siren . I don't think Druid_Works did that, though. I think that's the way those were published back in the day. You see it on all the WWII documentaries. Same gun sounds, same explosion sounds, same engine sounds for everything.
Posted by SteveLSU35
Shreveport
Member since Mar 2004
13970 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 9:15 am to
He married my wife’s Grandmother (2nd marriage), and we have a few really awesome awards and paintings people did for him.

Posted by zippyputt
Member since Jul 2005
5775 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 9:27 am to
Great story, thanks! Sadly he died from a yellow jacket sting at age 65 in Alexandria according to the Wiki article.
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
17503 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 9:40 am to
quote:

f one of the highest scoring P-51


Um, he only had 14.5 air to air - making him 17th on the list (of P-51, and much lower on total)
This post was edited on 1/2/24 at 9:43 am
Posted by SuperD AP
Member since Feb 2008
1174 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 9:43 am to
quote:

He married my wife’s Grandmother (2nd marriage), and we have a few really awesome awards and paintings people did for him.


Thats awsome. Ive been on a WW2 fighter pilot binge with books the last two years. Clair schunault (sp?) is another famous pilot from Louisiana. He was the leader of the Flying Tigers, an AVG group that fought in china, which included the famous ace Greg "Pappy" Boyington.
Posted by LSUBFA83
Member since May 2012
3346 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 10:31 am to
Chennault.
Posted by FlyingTiger06
Bossier City, LA
Member since Nov 2004
1886 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 10:32 am to
quote:

Clair schunault (sp?)


That would be General Claire Lee Chennault.
Posted by blueridgeTiger
Granbury, TX
Member since Jun 2004
20305 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 10:41 am to
quote:

That would be General Claire Lee Chennault.


His grandson, Claire Lee Chennault II attended LSU.
Posted by LSUtwolves
Member since Jun 2016
875 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 10:47 am to
I’m more of a p40 guy myself

LINK
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
17503 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 11:40 am to
quote:

Ive been on a WW2 fighter pilot binge with books the last two years.


The three below are great books. And all three pilots are high scoring P-51 aces: Preddy - 27 victories; Don Gentile - 26; John Godfrey: 17

Books:
George Preddy: Top Mustang Ace
Don Gentile: One Man Airforce - Memoir of a Fighter Pilot
Two Man Airforce: Don Gentile and John Godfrey: World War II Flying Aces
Posted by tiggerfan02 2021
HSV
Member since Jan 2021
2903 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 11:57 am to
quote:

Um, he only had 14.5 air to air - making him 17th on the list (of P-51, and much lower on total)



Where can I find this type of info?
I had an uncle who flew P-51s in the Air Force, and am curious about his career.
I was always trying to get info from him, but like a lot of WWII vets, he just didn't want to talk about it much.
I do know he went down behind German lines twice, and was rescued by the French Underground both times.
Posted by Zakatak
Member since Nov 2011
204 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 11:59 am to
quote:

The three below are great books.


Agree and I would add the following memoirs to the list. I can look up the actual titles if anyone needs them…

Bud Anderson
Chuck Yeager
Robin Olds
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
17503 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 12:06 pm to
quote:

Agree and I would add the following memoirs to the list. I can look up the actual titles if anyone needs them…


Have all three of those, too. That Olds book is a must read
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
17503 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 12:08 pm to
quote:

Where can I find this type of info?


Here are a couple

WWII P-51 Mustang Aces

Ace Pilots

Posted by shspanthers
Nashville, TN
Member since Sep 2007
769 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 12:23 pm to
quote:

Agree and I would add the following memoirs to the list. I can look up the actual titles if anyone needs them…

Bud Anderson
Chuck Yeager
Robin Olds


Here are the Amazon links to each, though that Bud Anderson paperback is going for $70+!


Bud Anderson

Chuck Yeager

Robin Olds
Posted by 4EvEr Bo REIN
Member since Oct 2016
583 posts
Posted on 1/2/24 at 12:26 pm to
William Whisner was George Pretty’s wingman, they both flew for the 352nd fighter group, just that group was one of the most decorated fighter groups in the European theater. They were called “The Blue Nosed Bastards”. Pretty was the top Mustang ace of the war. Go to their website if it’s still there, there are tons of information on them. Pretty’s book is great read also.
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