In our June issue we published an article entitled “Marinell’s mystery solved”, telling how the lady who was the inspiration behind the wartime naming of Maurice Hammond’s North American P-51D Mustang, 44-13521 Marinell, had recently made contact and for the first time revealed the origin of the aircraft’s name. The story has now gone one step further, as Mary Shuffleton visited the UK this June with her family and friends, and on the 19th went to Hardwick, Norfolk, to see the Mustang for herself.

Maurice Hammond stands alongside the Marinell nose-art of his combat-veteran P-51D at Hardwick, Norfolk, on June 19 with 87-year-old Mary Shuffleton, the real “Marinell” Credit: Jarrod CotterTo recap, Mary was dating the Mustang’s regular pilot, Bradford V. Stevens, before he went to England to fly with the 339th Fighter Group. When writing she always signed her name “Marinell”, a shortened version of her two Christian names, Mary Anella, or Mary Nell as her family called her. Bradford therefore had her signature emblazoned on his Mustang. Maurice is particularly interested in the social history of his aircraft, and has brought about some wonderful achievements in that respect. In 2005 Bill Price, pilot of the original P-51D Janie, which Maurice’s first Mustang restoration represents, came over see that aircraft. His day was made very special when he was flown in it to his wartime base at Raydon in Suffolk.

On August 13, 1944, 2nd Lt Myer Winkelman took off in Marinell from his base at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, on a low-level bombing mission, and was shot down and killed over France. On August 15, 2009, almost 65 years to the day that Marinell last left Fowlmere, Maurice flew the P-51D back to the airfield in a symbolic returnhome tribute and commemoration. This latest heart-warming occasion is again all down to the great work that Maurice does with his warbirds.

Asked how she felt upon learning that an aircraft had been named after her during the war, Mary said, “I got goosebumps”. On her feelings about seeing the restored Marinell “in the metal”, she added, “I was really touched.” It was a rare and special occasion, the like of which we may never see again. The inspiration behind the naming of a combat-veteran Second World War fighter seeing at first hand, for the first time, the aircraft she had seen before only in pictures. What a pleasant way to start this issue.

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