Current status of P-51 Dago Red

[sledge39]

.
... Before "Dago Red" ...

N5410V and then owner Prevost Smith at Chino 6 May 1967



This is what happened to the next owner 16 Aug 1970

https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.avia ... 1538&key=0

... history

http://www.mustangsmustangs.net/p-51/su ... l/44-74996
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Last edited by sledge39 on Tue Sep 11, 2018 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Joe Scheil]

Beautiful shot of the plane leaving the Aero Sport hangar area it looks like. I have never really seen a picture that good of the plane. Thank you for posting it.

[bdk]

Not my picture, but I've always liked this picture of when they took Dago Red to the Pomona Drag Races.

Frank Taylor also has a Top Fuel car for a while in similar markings. They used to do burnouts with it on the ramp in front of his hangar at Chino Airport.

OCIR World Finals 1983. Epperly set the world record speed in Frank Taylor's Dago Red dragster. Epperly twice ran 257.14 mph to set the national speed mark.

http://www.draglist.com/draglist/admin/ ... g&full=yes

[JimH]

I started following Reno when I found my Grandfathers Air Classics back in '78...the Baron was the epitome of Mustangs...at least to this 7 year old Then came Jeannie and Dago. What an era...and I am all for racing and modding warbirds...80 year old technology still beating anything that can be built today. It is a testament to what we had in the 40s. Fast forward to 1985 and my dad took the clan to CA during one of his business trips. When he had time off we were at either Chino or Flabob. There in the Aero Sport hangar was Dago...looking crispy from a fire during a heat race.

402370_10150564510154533_1941412603_n by jim harley, on Flickr

Over the years I ran in to her at Provo and then finally Hollister...Dan had big plans before the carpet was pulled out.

"logging time at Hollister"
VIntage (1611) by jim harley, on Flickr

VIntage (1614) by jim harley, on Flickr

VIntage (1615) by jim harley, on Flickr

VIntage (1600) by jim harley, on Flickr

and the last time I saw it at Hollister
20993997_10155718943624533_2867393495254756573_n by jim harley, on Flickr

21056028_10155718944629533_7063946678604615771_o by jim harley, on Flickr

[Mark Allen M]

I appreciate the non-racing "incredibly bright and unbelievably motivated people" who own, restore and display their warbirds at airshows and in museums. If not for those folks many other folks wouldn't have an opportunity to count rivets. Especially the ones who like to count them backwards.

[ZRX61]

Did the race trailer & tug end up at the same place?

In this case yes. The towing accident happened some years later...

In related news, the old Pegasus race trailer is sitting out at El Mirage.

[A68-1001]

I like this head on view , not my picture so will just post the link

http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/HI/HI-7/69-1.jpg

[T J Johansen]

Great photo of N5410V there Sledge39. Was not aware that it was during Smith's ownership that the gold paintjob was initiated. I only knew of the red/ black scheme seen here.

Photo by William Phelps at El Cajon, CA


T J

[DH82EH]

Just thought I'd say this: I'm decidedly more of a historian type, and get much more excited about restored fighters than modified racers. But I absolutely love it when you guys expound. It helps me understand, and thus appreciate, the race scene a great deal.

I believe warbird lovers owe a certain debt of gratitude to racing, and besides, the stories are just plain thrilling. So thanks, and please keep it coming!

That's really well put Kurt.
I am enjoying this thread tremendously. Thanks for all the great images folks, and even better stories.
I just read that "worlds fastest formation" article and that has to be just about the coolest story ever!
Hats off to anyone who has the bal$$ to pull off a mission like that. Pity the rest of the photos and negatives were destroyed.
Thanks to Neil for all of the amazing images in this thread and all the others you are good enough to share. Love it!

Andy

[Zac Yates]

The story of this photo flight is incredible reading and pure Skip.

I just read that "worlds fastest formation" article and that has to be just about the coolest story ever!
Hats off to anyone who has the bal$$ to pull off a mission like that. Pity the rest of the photos and negatives were destroyed.

I'm exceedingly late to the party, but who took the photos, and is the article available online anywhere?

[Archer]

The article as I found it and bookmarked it appears to be offline, but the Wayback Archive is our friend in this case. Hope this works: https://web.archive.org/web/20160314142 ... ion?page=1

[DH82EH]

Thanks Archer.
The link works for me. I just re-read it and it is still the coolest.

Andy

[Zac Yates]

Excellent, thank you!

So...no news on what's up with Dago?

[JohnH]

Nothing to talk about . In exact same place and status w Eric Hoffman in Fresno it's been for 12 years.

[Zac Yates]

Thanks John.