Warbird Information Exchange

BDK:

Good day!

Yeap! it is still in place according to the comments of the pilot (RIP). "some 2-3 miles fm the coast. c. 2005. With the proper POCs, $$$ & sonar gear that aircraft won't be hard to find. It will be a fine underwater tourist attraction. Won't be surprised if some photos of it emerge in due time.

2 b cont...

I totally disagree with the notion that the aircraft in question is FAS 410. Please be informed that I have an image of FAS 410 taken after its accident. For the record, "410" had a Bendix ADF loop on its turtledeck. To the best of my knowledge, "411" was not equipped with such a device. Also, the tip of "411's" spinner was painted white toward the later part of its service with the FAS (as in the photograph). "410's" spinner was not decorated in such a manner. In my mind, there is no doubt that the Mustang in question is the P-51D 44-72483. The photograph that has sparked so much interest, was in fact taken in 1972, while the Mustang was assigned to the Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena as #411. For the record, "411" was forced to make a belly landing at Amatecampo Airfield, El Salvador, due to an engine failure while being piloted by Cpt. Avila Rosales. As a result of the accident, the Mustang was struck-off charge from the FAS. It is interesting to note that this incident was the fourth of a total of five belly landings that the P-51D has suffered since the aircraft was manufactured by North American Aviation. Presently, it is registered as N151DM.

John L.Dienst

Thanks, John!

Great to see your input, and fantastic insight, as always.

_________________

i flew DC3s in the late 80's with one TJ , a Marine and WW2 veteran Corsair pilot,who got shot down and spent the last 9 months of the hostilities in a Japanese POW camp. He told me he flew a F4U as a contract mercenary during the aforementioned conflict,and that the pilots on both sides had a gentleman's agreement not to shoot each other down, just go through the motions of engaging. TJ was a true character,he spent 3 years in a Mexican prison for flying contraband electronics south of the border back when Mexico's import tariffs were astronomical, he said when he landed and they surrounded him he was gently informed that he had paid off the wrong people,his wife and ex wife both lived on his ranch in Texas, and in our radar less freight dog DC3s, in stormy weather he always refused radar vectors stating "I'm going to steer right into the black heart of the son of a "(well you get my drift). A true freight dog legend, TJ , Semper FI, blue skies,and tailwinds, may they all be tall,blonde,and long legged, God bless brother.

What airport did you fly out of during the 80's? I knew some of the contraband pilots that flew out of Brownsville. Very colorful people.

If in fact there was "a gentleman's agreement not to shoot each other down", somebody forgot to notify pilots on both sides. It is difficult then, to understand why the salvadoran government hired "soldiers of fortune" in the first place.

I wonder if "TJ" ever discussed the matter with salvadoran 'General Rancho Grande' ('The Mustang's Last Stand Over Honduras', Air Classics story)?

We flew out of Dayton-Cox, I never got involved with the contraband flying into Mexico, the guys who I knew were flying it were Laredo based.