Newly Restored P-51D ready to fly in the UK + Photo's

[Biggles1049]

Hiya - this is my first post to this Forum - it brings news and photos of a nearly restored P-51D at Hardwick in Norfolk , UK thats awaiting its return to the Skies

A visit late on Sunday afternoon 2oth July to Hardwick co-incided with one of
the monthly open days at the 93rd BG Museum (open 3rd sunday in the
month May to October)

As luck would have it Maurice Hammond had all his aircraft outside on
Display on the nearby Airstrip - the undoubted highlight was the first
public appearance of his new P51D "Marinell" .

The aircraft has recently been completely restored and has undertaken
engine runs and taxying trials within the last few days. It is just
awaiting paperwork before it takes to the air once more.

The aircraft is registered as G-MRLL , a North American P51D-5-NA. It
wears the markings of the 339th FG, 504th FS , as "413521", 5Q-B, and
is named "Marinell"

Even the sun played its part allowing the following images to be
taken (amongst several others !!)


Click here for more info on image below http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1119722/

[/img]

Click here for more info on image below jhttp://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1119723/



Hope you like these - if so let me know - I have 4 other views of this aircraft

Also noted were

G-MSTG P51D "Janie"
G-HAEC P51D "Big Beautiful Doll" (visitor - departed in formation with
"Janie")

G-ELMH / "42-84555" " EP-H " "Fools Rush in" Harvard Starboard view
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1119718/ Port view (previous image)
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1066255/

G-AMVD / "TJ565" Auster 5 http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1119717/

Stearman (PT-13D) N4712V (ex 42-16931) (previous image)
http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1028473/

Other aircraft had visited earlier that day including a Spitfire and a
ME108, but had departed before I arrived

Relevant Links

93rd BG Museum Hardwick
http://www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/93bg%20museumuk.htm

Hardwick Warbirds - Maurice Hammonds Collection
http://www.hardwickwarbirds.com/

Hope this is of interest

Keith
See more images here
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=Kei ... otographer

[Indian head]

"It is just awaiting paperwork before it takes to the air once more."

I'll check back in twelve months then, and see if the CAA have got round to giving it a ticket....

[Jack Cook]

Keith,
Great photos of a beautiful P-51D!!!

wears the markings of the 339th FG, 504th FS , as "413521", 5Q-B, and is named "Marinell"

I don't know if you said this on accident but it's nice to see one of our UK friends not saying it's the actual a/c.
Has it is it's a great tribute to the 339th FG.
The only error is that the actual P-51D "Marinell" was coded 5Q+D not B.

[CWBuff]

Groovy stuff...

As a 339th FG fan, I'm happy to see another warbird in the outfit's markings. And I'll echo Jack in saying that
it is indeed a wonderful tribute to the 339th, and to the man who lost his life in the original incarnation of
'Marinell' on August 13th, 1944... Lt. Myer R. Winkelman.

However, I will concur again with Jack... the code letter should be 'D', according to the information I have. I think
'Mister Mustang' has a wartime photo of the original 'Marinell'... perhaps it shows the code letter.

For anyone interested, you can see some shots of the first engine run HERE, as well as a neat view showing
the name being painted.

I'd like very much to see the other photos you have.


Fade to Black...

Last edited by CWBuff on Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Chicoartist]

Jack's right in this case, as usual , ... but never say 'never had/never did' (you'll shoot yourself in the foot before too long), as codes can and did change - I've corrected so many 4th FG code 'descrepancies' in books that I need to write my own - but writing's too hard, I'm sticking to oil and canvas.

44-13521
P-51D 504
5Q-D
Stevens,
Capt. Bradford V.
"Marinell"
Taken on charge 30 June 44.
Lost 13 August 1944 - 2Lt. Myer R. Winkelman (KIA)
MACR 7775

Info from the wonderful http://www.littlefriends.co.uk site, plus MACR info. Apparently, the aircraft was hit by a bomb, and crashed at St. Just. If the original poster doesn't have it, I can get the MACR in high-rez if he desires.

13 August 44 was not a good day, as thirteen 8th AF fighters were lost, with almost half being KIAs for various reasons.

Wade

Last edited by Chicoartist on Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chicoartist]

Oh yeah, gorgeous kite! That's a given, though, looking at the beautiful large pics ...

Wade

[CWBuff]

Wade, could you send me the MACR? I'd grab it from Footnote, but I don't have a premium account...


Fade to Black...

[Chicoartist]

Wade, could you send me the MACR? I'd grab it from Footnote, but I don't have a premium account...

No problem ... email me directly at chicoartist@*****yahoo.com (take out the *'s)

Here's a couple of pages from the report:







Wade

[Jack Cook]

Here's the whole thing and a photo of Lt Winkleman from previous threads. also a photo of the original P-51D from Martin.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22762&highlight=4413521
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22808&highlight=4413521
I'll bump them.

[Biggles1049]

As promised some more views for you all taken on the same day

[JägerMarty]

Very nice indeed

[mlenoch]

(very-very minor point.....my own personal item of interest........the inside of the landing gear doors should be silver not green for a historical restoration.......just an FYI.........just a very minor point)

Maurice does excellent and fabulous work. Hopefully his success with the CAA will follow quickly.
VL

[richkolasa]

Beautiful airplane! Reminds me of the late Bill Clark's Mustang (State College, PA based) "Dolly" after its repaint.

Regarding this one, if he wants to sell it, I'll give him FIVE HUNDRED U.S. dollars for it! The dollar's rebounding, so I think at a soon-to-be-seen exchange rate, that'll be about 1 million Euros, or 1.3 million pounds sterling!

Really!

[Biggles1049]

Hi Guys

Great news "Marinell" has flown . With he paperwork completed the P-51D flew on friday 25th July 2008. Sahme I was'nt there ti see it

Best regards

[JohnTerrell]

Great news, and thank you for sharing! Quite the beautiful aircraft, and it is very nice to know that another one is in the air again.