WW2 Pilot Reunited With His Wartime P-51D

[262crew]

Good luck with that! You will not get a reply.

I emailed the director and offered any photo from my collection to help
them out-no strings. They couldn't be bothered even with a reply that said drop dead.

I hear you! Biting my tongue! They were kind enough to offer me a job last year but I had to turn them down, I chose an obscure aircraft manufacture at the north end of the runway.

These are from opening day at FHC. I didn't think it was right to take pictures of Bud as if he were part of the collection.

[Chicoartist]

Thanks for posting those nice pics. Since my earlier comments in this thread, I've made my way up there and shot my OWN darn walk-around pics! Beautiful machine - perfect, IMHO.

So ... I have all *I* need to do a future large painting of Upupa'. If anybody runs into Mr. Allen up there, tell 'im that I'll sell it to him for, shoot - $25 million, tops! I'll throw in a nice frame, too.

Back to the real world - by chance, I just finished a small study of U/E - click my links below to see it.

Wade

[The Inspector]

KEN-
This IS the original UPUPA not another airframe painted up to represent UPUPA- Thats what makes her so special in that they found and restored the airplane (down to completely reproducing the original WW2 wiring and analyzing and reproducing the INK in P/N stamps on the airframe) and found her pilot and reunited him with HIS airplane, that's why the salute to Bud when he passed last year was so emotional for all who were present.
The folks @ FHC are a very very odd group of individuals who definately don't hear the same drum everyone else does just look @ the design for the EMP @ the Seattle Center or any VULCAN building including the dark dungeon of heros @ MoF.
The work is 100% original and accurate with no expense spared, sort of like Bill Harrah was with his car collection ("damnit, find a set of '23 Maxwell pedal pads, never mind that '24's were the same! find me some 23's).
Bring HJGB by, it'll look good flying alongside FHC's UPUPA and John Sessions' H3LL-R-BUST and IMPATIENT VIRGIN? all three on KPAE and across the runway from each other, heck, Bill Anders might even bring VALHALLA down from KBLI for that.
We locals hope that the Future of Flight @ KPAE has another WARBIRD WEEKEND this Fall and a brace of P-51's in 'fingers four' passing @ 40 feet would be really cool!!

[Ken]

This IS the original UPUPA not another airframe painted up to represent UPUPA

I should have been more clear. I know it's the same airframe. I was thinking aloud how much of the metal seen in the in the photo was THE same. Sometimes cowl pieces get remade. Sometimes areas get re-skinned. Different prop, engine, dzus fasteners, you name it. That's all. Thanks.

[Taigh Ramey]

As far as the antenna through the canopy is concerned that wire was used for the Setchel Carlson or Detrola low frequency radio commonly used for ferrying and then removed in theatre. Some aircraft carried them after arriving but as I recall Bud's Mustang had it removed.

Its nice to hear the comments about the accuracy of her restoration. Westpac certainly did an awesome job.

We made the wiring for Upupa Epops, their B-25 and other FHC aircraft here in our shop. It was a blast researching the thread patterns of the different aircraft down to the picks per inch accuracy. We even found the original formulas for the paints and had an original WWII paint manufacturer reproduce it for us.

What an opportunity to have the funding available to bring all of the minute details of authenticity from the depth of my twisted mind, T.O.'s and blueprints into reality. I had been wanting to make cotton covered wire for an authentic restoration for 25 years and FHC finally provided the funding and more importantly, the interest, to make it happen.

I spent many months doing research for FHC at museums and National Archives to come up with the documentation necessary to establish the authenticity standards needed for accurate restorations and it was a blast. Even after spending over a week at National Archives from opening to closing time, where your mind is numb from pouring miles over documents, you still have a great feeling about what you found to help make the restorations more authentic.

Working for FHC back in the ground floor days was a great experience, even with all of the associated ugliness, as you felt like you were working for the aircraft and the preservation of their history. Mr. Allen trusted us to raise the bar and produce the most authentic restoration possible and I know in my heart that I sure gave him his moneys worth.

Thanks Mr. Allen!

[The Inspector]

Taigh,
Brother, did you ever!!!!

[Chicoartist]

As far as the antenna through the canopy is concerned that wire was used for the Setchel Carlson or Detrola low frequency radio commonly used for ferrying and then removed in theatre. Some aircraft carried them after arriving but as I recall Bud's Mustang had it removed.

As usual Taigh is right - the SCR-522 VHF (mast antenna, no wire) set was SOP for the 8th Air Force 38, 47, and 51 trio. That being said, in my various "deep" research adventures for my 8th AF subjects, I found a few early-mid 1943 P-47C shots of 4th FG planes with a wire from the mast to the tail, but overall based on the visual evidence the 'rule' (not a LAW) was no aerial wire for 8th AF fighters past mid-43.

Now, what confuses some folks is that more than a few 8th AF bubbletop Mustangs can be seen with the "wire" canopy type, i.e., either a roller in place (but no wire) or the roller removed and the spot faired over. So, to be completely, 100.001% accurate, IMO they should keep the canopy and remove the wire if possible.

My 2 cents ... I'll go back to the time-out corner now!

Wade