P-51D 44-64005

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:42 pm

Any new reports on this Mustang since I posted the photo of her in PA last year??? Did David Arnold ever ship her to the UK???
I was told by the #1 51 restorer that a/c is the the worst shape of any flyable P-51. I'm guessing "flyable" being the relative word.

mlenoch · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:56 pm

I did see this airframe as it was being crated.
Yes, it did need a lot of work, but 100% of components present.
It did go to Pennsylvannia, where I believe it still 'sits'. I have not heard of any progress on the bird since.
VL

Tim Savage · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 8:26 pm **Posts:** 632

vlado wrote:

I did see this airframe as it was being crated.
Yes, it did need a lot of work, but 100% of components present.
It did go to Pennsylvannia, where I believe it still 'sits'. I have not heard of any progress on the bird since.
VL

Mark told me it left his place in Pennsylvannia and went to Florida, I believe. Don't think much work has been done...

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:57 pm

When was the last time it flew? You should see the one in Baton Rouge.. :shock:

Lynn

Scepter · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:01 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

When was the last time it flew? You should see the one in Baton Rouge.. :shock:

Lynn

Or the one at South county airport in California. :cry:

Mark D · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:30 am

Well

Here is the Mary Mine while we had it here for 8 months. David made his mind up that it had to go to FL. and never see daylight for a few more years. We took the fuselage out of the container to house it in a storage room attached to our hanger because that's what his insurance company wanted, then he wanted it in FL. so back in the box it went. While looking through my "Aces and Wingmen" book, I read about George Vanden Heuvel and his squadron mate Robert Volkman - who is from Wilmington DE. and still lives there. We got in touch with Bob and told him that we had Georges 51 here with us and asked him if he would like to see the plane. Of course he wanted to and we were going to set up a date for late last September, but it left for FL. by the middle of that month. I was disappointed but what can you do. Sometimes I wonder how some of the buyers on our side of the pond could let this combat vet get away. It would be nice to see it get a proper restoration. BTW anyone know how many combat vet P-51's are around?? Jack??

Mark D

lestweforget · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:46 am

Quote:

BTW anyone know how many combat vet P-51's are around??

There are two ex-Swedish ones in the UK, 44-63864 Twilight Tear, and 44-72216 Miss Helen. Also , in the US another ex-Swede 44-72364 Up Upa Epops. There may be more , and someone much more informed than me may know. I am not even going to go down the "data-plate" road , because I have seen what happens and don't want to open that can of worms again!!! :hide:

More info here
http://www.uk-warbirds.net/warbirdhistories.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51registry/p51-4472364.html

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:13 am

lestweforget wrote:

Quote:

BTW anyone know how many combat vet P-51's are around??

There are two ex-Swedish ones in the UK, 44-63864 Twilight Tear, and 44-72216 Miss Helen. Also , in the US another ex-Swede 44-72364 Up Upa Epops. There may be more , and someone much more informed than me may know. I am not even going to go down the "data-plate" road , because I have seen what happens and don't want to open that can of worms again!!! :hide:

More info here
http://www.uk-warbirds.net/warbirdhistories.html
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51registry/p51-4472364.html

I understand Tony Buechler's 44-72942 is a former 12th AF bird.

JimH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:03 am

Here is the one in Baton Rouge...would make a great project.

Current schemes...and current data plates
combat vets or "in theater vets" via MustangsMustangs:
Upopa Epops
Mary Mine
Twilight Tear
Marinell
Impatient Virgin
Petie 2nd
Sparky
Ridge Runner
Da Quake
Lou IV 51TK
Sierra Sue
Grim Reaper
Angels Playmate
Daddys Girl.....

OK you guys get the idea...just go through the list there are a bunch! Pretty cool...too bad the majority don't wear thier original schemes, particularly "angels playmate" it was a 357th FG vet...according to MM...edited for my premature enthusiasm :shock:

Jim Harley

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

particularly "angels playmate" it was a 357th FG vet "stump jumper"

That airplane must have had a different name during WWII. The "Stump Jumper" name came after it landed in a field of freshly cut trees (Stumps) while with the West Virginia ANG...........

Mark H

marine air · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:31 am

Are there any P-51's or other fighters that have combat related scab patches or battle damage repair?
I have seen combat repair patches on O-2's, PBY's , T-28D's, even C-130's, etc but never on a fighter.

lestweforget · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:56 am

Unforgivable of me to have left out this one (another in the UK and never had a major rebuild, very original!!):oops: "Jumpin Jaques" 44-72035 has evidence of combat damage repairs. Good history here http://www.hangar11.co.uk/mustang.php

Django · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:21 pm

That would make 44-63810 the sole surviving airframe of the 357th, right? But no one knows what it's real name/history was?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:21 pm

I've never seen anything on it that makes it more than a guard a/c named Stump Jumper. Collard painted the 357th FG markings because he liked them.
Jumpin Jacques had a splatch of red paint on it when it was stripped. Sorry that's not providence for anything.
Marinell is a data plate has is Impatient Virgin.
Da Quake pulled off a French beach is actually another a/c
most of JimH's list are just paint schemes-sorry.
John Anderson's XC-Fuz is former #60 of the 318th FS 325th FG.
Sparky is ace Doc Watson's 52nd FG a/c

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:05 pm

FWIW, a 357th FG listing from Little Friends @ littlefriends.co.uk:

44-63810
P-51D
363 B6-C
Stump Jumper

Wade

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