mythical P-51 restoration in WA State

krislhull · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:31 pm

For some time now, I have heard rumors from various sources about a P-51 being restored in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. I know that it is not associated with any of the usual suspects in the area (J Sessions, P Allen, B Anders, Olympic Flight Museum), and have heard of various locations for it around the greater Seattle area. Does anyone know of anything on this subject? A search through the MustangMustangs site was not very helpful at this time...

Speedy · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:26 pm

For several years there was a P-51D and P-51H under 'restoration' of some type at Crest Airpark in the Kent/Auburn highlands. I never 'saw' them, only heard about them being in one of the residential hangar/houses at the south end of the runway. I think Steve Myers was involved, and if memory serves they were owned by someone out of Chicago.

T-28mike · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:40 pm

One of the Rogers Brothers was in the Seattle area when they owned the bits that used to belong to the Red Baron, and Dilly's Learstang. That may be where some of the rumor came from.

marine air · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:55 pm

There's a P-51H project for sale at Courtesy Aircraft. I think it is in Oregon. Has been around for a while. Is this the one?
There's a very finite number of airframes, crash sites and parts for the H. The Texas project went overseas to New Zealand or Australia. The Chanute, and Lackland AFB aircraft have been at the same location for decades as have the flyable Coutches and Whttington aircraft.
Are there any others? Just to drive people nuts, I know there were parts around. THe whittingtons bought a spare zero time H wing when they crashed theirs in the early 1980's. It was so corroded it couldn't be used. Maybe someone bought it as a basis for a new build. THere were a few H parts found when they sold the rest of the Piper Enforcer parts from the Piper Vero Beach location. (My dad had an H-model windscreen from there for a few years.)
Back in the late 1960's, early 70's there was a guy in Chattanooga that had a warehouse full of T-33 and F-86 parts and engines, airframes. He was said to have a P-51 project. Dad was advised against it because it was an H, with no WWII lineage. SO we never went to look at it. Maybe these went to a foreign country ?

krislhull · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:15 pm

Speedy, do you know of anything else about the Crest rumor? That is the main rumor I have heard... Although the one Mike has mentioned I have heard rumors of as well... Back to Crest... I had a friend who lived there several years ago and he was the one who originally told me about it. He knew nothing more of it than that he was told there was one somewhere on the field, but he had no idea where or if it was true.

Kris Hull

snj-5 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:04 pm

There was a P-51H project on Crest Airpark (actually just off of Crest Airpark) for many years, but it has been sold (via Courtesy). I have been hanging out here at Crest Airpark for decades, and I moved here in 2004.

There was a P-51D on the field back in the late 1980s (owned by Jack Shafer) and operated by Jim Perry, but
that airplane was sold and (I think) destroyed in a crash in the early 1990s. It was painted up as Cripes a Mighty.

No Mustangs projects or otherwise) exist here now I'm afraid....

Bela P. Havasreti

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:12 am

I have always wondered about what happened to N5484V after it clobbered a couple of cars on landing at a strip in the Kent area back in 1962. By today's standard the plane would have been restored, but back then...

The paperwork eventually found its way to Bill Myers in MO for use on the F-6D Butch Schroeder rebuilt, but what about the airframe?

T J

warbirdfinder · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:40 am

I have always wondered about what happened to N5484V after it clobbered a couple of cars on landing at a strip in the Kent area back in 1962.

I believe you may be referring to a P-51 that crashed at the old Auburn airport (stopping on top of a car) in about 1962. The wreckage was hauled off to the back of the hanger, what happen to it I don't know. The airport sat on top of the hill as your left Auburn for Enumclaw on the main highway, however many years ago the airport was sold and turned into housing. I was in high school at the time and seem to remember it was flown by a man who had a private license and limited time in the plane. I do remember watching him on previous flights, the landing and takeoffs were a real circus.

There was another P-51 (painted yellow?) that crashed just North of Enumclaw in the 1960's. The story that was told: it was owned by the President of Alaska Airlines, the engine froze up and he belly landed in a farmers field. I remember seeing the airplane wreckage (it was quite complete) stored next to the service station/general store about a mile or so North of the town. What ever happened to it after it was hauled off, I didn't hear.

krislhull · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:50 am

Thanks for the info, Bela. That answers a lot of questions I have had. I guess my friend was not telling me a tall story after all!

Kris Hulk

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:32 am

Charlie Willis, the late semi pirate, tightwad owner of Alaska Airlines in the 40's -late 60's owned a Grumman F6F-3 named 'Little Nugget' but it was 99% glossy white (buaerno 08825, N 4965V) that he flew all over the Northwest. It wound up in Canby OR. and crashed in June, 1977 and is listed as 'stored'

Speedy · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:38 am

That Hellcat is under new ownership and will take to the skies again...

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mythical P-51 restoration in WA State

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