Students in Vanderbilt University’s World War II history class will watch a P-51 Mustang, arguably the most potent and effective fight plane of that war, fly over the northern part of the Vanderbilt campus at noon on Friday, April 2. Michael Bess, the Chancellor’s Professor of History, teaches the popular class. Nashvillian Tom Patten is the owner and pilot of the plane, which was named Sweetie Face by its World War II pilot.
Sweetie Face flew in the D-Day invasion of France, and on its wings and underbelly are the invasion stripes that were painted on all Allied planes participating in D-Day for identification purposes. Sweetie Face reportedly downed four German aircraft during World War II.
A photo of the plane is available upon request to the News Service.
WHAT: World War II fighter plane to fly over VU campus as part of history class lesson
WHERE: Northern part of campus near Wilson Hall
WHEN: April 2 at noon
Media contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu