Robert Baseler designed Checkerboard tail markings for the 325th Fighter Group while they were stationed at Montesquieu, Algeria. The inspiration came from Werner Voss' Fokker DR1 Triplane, which had a checkerboard painted around the fuselage. The 325th setteled on a black and yellow pattern painted at ninety degrees to the leading edges of the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. The checks were 12" square on the P-40s and P-47s, and 10" square on the P-51s.
North American
P-51D Mustang
The 317th FS flew its first combat mission on 19 May 1943, escorting B-26s over Decimonannu Airdrome, Sardinia. The group scored six victories that day; and Capt. Herschel Green, then serving as the squadron Operations Officer, scored the squadron's first victory by downing a Bf 109 with his P-40.