A P-38J Lightning assigned to the 49th Squadron, 14th Fighter Group, taxies out for take-off on the pierced steel plank at Triolo, Italy, toward the end of 1944. Mud has been thrown all over the aircraft, particularly on each side of the nose, by the props, and there wasn't time to wash much off except the largest clumps.
(James M. Stitt, Jr.)

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