My first air show

[Neal Nurmi]

In the summer of 1974 I had been out of the Army for a year. I had a job, and was just starting to figure out this photography thing. As a kid I'd always loved airplanes, but through University and then the military I had pretty much never given aviation a thought. Then that summer I happened on an issue of Air Classics that had mention of an upcoming warbird show in Fresno(!). I didn't even know til then that there were still flying Mustangs, Corsairs and such...

So I drove on down to see what I could see. The show was at a little airport sort of right in town (Chandler Field). And there they were!

Lots of flying, and the runway was only a couple hundred feet from the crowd line. After the show you could just wander the field, and touch the airplanes, and everything.

I was hooked.

[Speedy]

So what do we have?

Guilford's Blue Max
Sanders' 232
Zeuschel's N332
I don't remember who owned the yellow and black checkerboard...but it was a Chino Mustang
Coutches H model
Maybe Herlihy's Sweet P Mustang?
Another yellow/black checkerboard nose Mustang
POF's Hellcat

What else?

[T J Johansen]

The P-51s with black/ yellow checkerboard are both club owned. The one with a full cowl is Mustang Pilots Club's N5747, and the one with three rows is California Warbirds N5460V.

And I think Speedy is right on the money regarding the 51 with a polished spinner. N11T.

T J

[Lon Moer]

This was the show that went on to be called the "Gathering of Warbirds" and soon moved north to the airport at Madera to accommodate the growing number of participants.
They were some fun fun times.

[leo]

Was the full cowl checkerboard Mustang Stan Stokes? The same one that ended up on a Nut Tree poster?

[p51]

Really good photography, by the way!

[T J Johansen]

Was the full cowl checkerboard Mustang Stan Stokes? The same one that ended up on a Nut Tree poster?

You mean John Stokes? If so, no. He owned N2251D after Bob Hoover had operated it for years. Looks kinda similar though. Here is a shot of it while with Stokes in 1975-76:

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-74427



The two 51s in Neal's photos are these stallions:

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-72192

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-73027

T J

[leo]

Stan, John...whats the difference...
One fly's them and one paints them.
Yep, that's who I meant.
Thanks, I didn't realize it was that late in the 70's.

[Badman]

I think the Nut Tree poster Mustang was Zueshel's N332? At least I have a Nut Tree poster of that Mustang stored in a closet somewhere when I think Greenamyer was flying it.

[Zac Yates]

Neal, those pictures are superb. Crystal clear! I really enjoy seeing your shots.

[Neal Nurmi]

Thanks for the compliments. Not too bad for a beginner, I guess...

Kinda scary that this was well over 40 years ago, and I still haven't grown up. I still drive my wife nuts by running outside every time an interesting sounding airplane flies over.

[Speedy]

I think the Nut Tree poster Mustang was Zueshel's N332? At least I have a Nut Tree poster of that Mustang stored in a closet somewhere when I think Greenamyer was flying it.

You're part right. There were actually two Nut Tree Mustang posters. The one you speak of is a Jim Larsen photo of Cliff Cummins flying Zeuschel's N332 at the 1970 Mojave 1000. But there is an air to air shot of a checkerboard nose Mustang taken out of the back of a B-25 too.

[Zac Yates]

Thanks for the compliments. Not too bad for a beginner, I guess...

I wish my "first airshow" photos were this good!

And my wife - who I've been married to only since April - doesn't bat an eyelid when I hear something and bolt!

[Pogo]

A natural with a camera, I'd say. They're really nice photos.

Zac, your remarks remind me of my old Montana gal. One lazy Sunday morning we heard the unmistakable rumble of a bomber going over, and had us a terrific midair collision right there in the living room that sent chairs and tables tumbling, and wrecked into each other again trying to get out the door first. I didn't think she was ever going to stop laughing. Good memories of that one...

[Lon Moer]

<>
But there is an air to air shot of a checkerboard nose Mustang taken out of the back of a B-25 too.

And which Mustang is this one?? (I have a couple of these posters)