Warbird Information Exchange

Some information - http://www.silvervingar.se/silvervingar ... u_f16.html

Liberator;

Good day!

Tks for posting the interesting P-51 link of the RSAF and their history.

Very few pics are known to exist of the transfer of some 25+ RSAF samples to the Nicaraguan AF c. 1955 or in active service with FAN.

We'll be posting a few of the FAN P-51s once brought to the US c.1970s. If anyone has more info/data & pics of the FAN P-51s plz post a few samples. We are looking for 2 lonely TF-51s brought from the Swedish AF.

Tks

The Israelis also ended up with 25 ex-Swedish Air Force Mustangs in the early 1950s. They saw service in the 1956 war.

P-51 Folks:

Yeap! Some P-51 folks claim that the dark olive P-51s seen here were being sent to Israel also...via a third country fm this location. S.Calif c.1950s.Photo AEC.

Actually, FHC's P-51 was given to Sweden after the war and eventually ended up in Central America. It was flown in March & April 1945 by Bud Tordoff who shot down a BF-109 and a ME-262 with it, he was reunited with it up in Arlington, WA in 2003. It is painted just the way he flew it.

The Warbird Heritage Foundation's P-51 was sold to Sweden for $70K and flown unarmed to Stockholm in April 1945 as part of Project Speedy. This was the last part of it's history we were missing until recently. From there it went to the Dominican Republic until 1984.
David
WHF

Swedish P-51s:

Good day!

P-51? GN #98 (Guardia Nacional) of the Nicaraguan AF c. late 70s. N74045.
Somewhere in the U.S. Photo via Dick Phillips.

44-84655
Do a search (Ctrl F) for 74045, http://www.swissmustangs.ch/20214/20268.html

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45-47=-2

The photo of N74045, 44-84655, was taken at LaPort, IN. Nov 1963, by Vince Reynolds.

Swedish P-51 Folks:

Do the previous sample of GN#98 looks like a TF-51 to some of you??

Yes, and my post above explains why.

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45-47=-2

The Mustangs seen parked on the Grand Central ramp in one of Zorro7's posts above, were examples that were pulled from storage at Kelly Field and sent to Grand Central Aircraft Co. to be overhauled for the USAF (circa 1949/1950 - there were three other contractors doing the same - Pacific Airmotive Corp., Temco, and Lockheed Aircraft Service). The aircraft closest to the camera were the most fresh from Kelly, with the preservative finish still covering the airframes, while those farther from the camera are just a bit farther along through the overhaul/remanufacturing process as the preservative has been stripped off and the aircraft are beginning to be disassembled ahead of entering the Grand Central facilities. It's said that these airframes would enter into the Grand Central Aircraft facilities and be taken apart down to their wing spars and then built back up again, going back out onto the ramp as good as new and likely up-to-date with the latest USAF T.O.'s and markings.

Sewdish P-51 Folks:

Good day!

A poss Swedish origen P-51D (Ukn for now) of FAN Poss GN# 40 & emblem in the mid section aft of the R/S of canopy. Las Mercedes, Nicaragua c. 1970s.

The previous aircraft picture above of Reg N74045 could not have been taking c.1963 due to the existing Nicaraguan GN number 98 at the tail & the erased emblem in the mid section L/S aft of the canopy. Clear indication of an inbound to th U.S sample. The sharkmouth detail is a bonus for modelers. Noticeable also in the erased rudder white/blue colors of the Nicaraguan flag. Photo via D. Flores.