Duxford Flying Legends 2005

[evangilder]

I can certainly give it a try.

 

[plan_D]

Well, here's the list -

P-51C-20 #43-25147 'Princess Elizabeth'

P-51D-20 #44-63864

P-51D-25 #44-73877

P-51D-25 #44-73149

P-51D-25 #44-72773

P-51D-25 #44-72917

The P-51C was easy because it's the only one! The others I just don't know - I could tell you who they belong to, if that would help.

 

[evangilder]

That might, also the fuselage codes. Sometimes the serials are originial, but the paints schemes are not. Sometimes they change the serials to match the paint scheme, some don't. Makes for some confusion.

 

[plan_D]

I noticed that - let me see how many fuselage codes I've got because I'll be taking them from my pictures. Those up there are the originals of the actual aircraft because the real Princess Elizabeth was actually a P-51B so it can't be the original code - obviously.

I've worked out - well, I saw it...the # is the one painted on the aircraft 'Suzy'

But here are the ones I still don't know which one is which because in the pictures it's not painted with the proper code...

P-51D-20 #44-63864 Owned by The Fighter Collection

P-51D-25 #44-73877 Owned by Scandanavian Historic Flight

P-51D-25 #44-73149 Owned by Old Flying Machine Company

P-51D-25 #44-72917 Owned by Rob Davies

 

[plan_D]

Here's Susy #44-72773 -

 

[evangilder]

P-51C-20 #43-25147 'Princess Elizabeth'
History / Previous Identities:

197?: Restoration as "Shangri-La", Pete Regina
06/11/81: Test flown by Dave Zeuschel
1982: First B model to race at Reno Air Races since '48
1986: The Believer, racer # 97, Joseph Kasparoff
1996: Princess Elizabeth, Stephen Grey, The Fighter Collection - England
1997 June: P-51 is crated and shipped to England.
1998 July: Disassembly and parts inspection begins.
1998 November: P-51 shipped back to US for further restoration work.
2002: shipped back to England for assembly
will probably be painted as before "Princess Elizabeth"


P-51D-20 #44-63864 'Twilight Tear'
History / Previous Identities:

44-63864: Delivered USAAF 12/14/44
WWII Vet: "Twilight Tear" coded HL W,
pilot Hubert Davis, Duxford, England
3 confirmed kills: 2 Me262, 1 Me109

1948 June: RSwAF 26158 F16 coded rD, gK
1953: Sold Israel as IDFAF 3506
Another P-51 (N251L) in Israel was sold with an id of 44-63864, then crashed in Iceland on return to USA. Owner Bill Lear and the pilot were killed.

At some point 44-63864(#1) was registered 4X-AIM in Israel. Upon arrival in Sweden, the paint was stripped, Swedish markings were found on the wings and in the tail the placard with the RSwAF number of 26158.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002: March/April - 44-63864 sold to the Fighter Collection of Duxford. Will be ferried (flown) to the UK in early April 02.
2002: registered G-CBNM
2003: flying as "Twilight Tear", former WWII 78th FG colors.

P-51D-25 #44-73877 'Old Crow'
History / Previous Identities:

1951: RCAF 9279
1958: N6320T
1960: CF-PCZ (Neil McClain)
1968: N167F (Paul Finefrock)
1980: (Anders Saether)
restoration by Vintage Aircraft of Ft. Collins
1985: finished restoration as "Old Crow", first flight by Anders Saether
1999: repainted as "Detroit Miss" E2 D
2001: repainted as "Old Crow" Olive Drab (thanks to Steve Huckvale for info)

P-51D-25 #44-73149 'Ferocious Frankie'
History / Previous Identities:

1945: US training units
There is a report that states this P-51 served with the 357th FG
1947: RCAF 9568, Suffield Alberta
(part of the first delivery batch to Canada)
1960: N6340T
1962: NL6320T, restoration, Aerosport at Chino CA (Ernest Beehler)
1974: racer #7 "Candyman" (red w/ white stripe) (Charles Beck)
1980: overhaul in Oakland Ca prior to ferry flight to Switzerland by John Crocker
1981: "Moose"/"Candyman"
1986: N51JJ (John Crocker)
1991: G-BTCD (The Fighter Collection)
1999: (Mark Hanna) new paint job
2002: new paint as "Ferocious Frankie" 44-13704,B7 H

P-51D-25 #44-72773 'Susy'
History / Previous Identities:

1951 - USAF Tactical Air Command
131st Fighter Squadron, George AFB California 1954 - 182nd Fighter Squadron,
Texas Air National Guard, Brooks AFB, SAn Antonio 1958: Nicaragua GN 120
1963: N12066 (Will Martin)
1966: (I. Burchinall Jr)
1985: (Bob Ferguson)
1986: G-SUSY (Charles Church) England
1990: (Paul Morgan)

P-51D-25 #44-72917 'Big Beautiful Doll'
History / Previous Identities:

8 March, 1951: Commenwealth Aircraft Corporation
1951: RAAF
1958: VH-FCB (F.C. Braund)
1961: (Jack McDonald)
1969: PI-C651 Philippines (Prontino Inc.)
1973: crashed on landing, rebuilt using 44-72917 (ex-Phillippine AF P-51)
1981: VR-HIU (Hong Kong)
1985: rebuilt "CV H" , shipped to UK
1985: G-HAEC, "Ding Hao", "Missy Wong from Hong Kong", "RAAF A68-192"


Whew! All of this info comes from the mustangsmustangs.net website.

 

[plan_D]

Thanks a lot - that's excellent. Exactly what I wanted. 8)

 

[plan_D]

Here they are, properly named...thanks to evan. 8)

 

[evangilder]

Glad I could help. Great shots!

 

[cheddar cheese]

That last one is great! 8)

 

[trackend]

few more

 

[Erich]

actually for historical sake, 4th FG "Susy" should not have the upright Mustang profile on the tail. This was a mottif developed in one of the 55th fg squadrons for Identification purposes

great photos guys...

 

[trackend]

The in flight Dak is rubbish, sorry about that I need more practice

 

[plan_D]

Great shots, track. Here's some of the Dutch owned B-25:

 

[cheddar cheese]

Very Very nice guys! 8)

 

[trackend]

your action shots are much better than mine PD all I have ended up with is digital dross I have a question I am going to put some vid clips on the site all from FL 2005 should I start a new thread in the vid section or add them too here? oh sorry to be boring heres a few more snaps

 

[plan_D]

I was in a good spot during the majority of the show - I was where they were all stopping to run up their engines. As you can see I do have some poor shots - it was mainly from the button sticking and I'd press harder which would make me move the camera just as the picture was taken.

Here's the BoB-MF Dakota.

 

[trackend]

still like em D it adds atmos you must have been right near me if you look at the Gi guys in your shot by the Daks starboard wheel and mine its the same blokes so we took the pics within about 30 secs of eachother

 

[plan_D]

Yeah - we must have been close but that flight path was packed.

 

[trackend]

True oh well yet more i think we are starting to bore the other guys D with our pics