BRAT ATTACK The Cavanaugh Flight Museum's P51 First flight

FG1D Pilot · **Joined:** Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:42 am **Posts:** 450

After a 4 year restoration, the P51 "The Brat III" flys. Cavanaugh Flight Museum teamed up with R B Airframes of Dennison Texas for major repairs and final Restoration by Ezell Aviation of Breckenridge, Tx. The Mustang is back in it's original WWII markings. The museum's P-51D was manufactured in 1944 and shipped to England. It was assigned to the 9th Air Force, 370th Fighter Group, 401st Fighter Squadron, and was flown by Lt. Hjalmar Johnsen. http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Johnsen.htm

The P51 was painted in Don Blakeslee's markings when first acquired. The original s/n was left on the aircraft. In 2000 the museum was contacted by Jal Johnsen who was going through his father's log book and found the s/n of the P51 he flew in WWII. After an internet search he found his father's Mustang was our's at CFM. Jal and his mother visited the museum shortly after and gave us copies of his father's logs and photos taken during WWII. As we began the restoration, we decided to put it back in it's original markings.
Photos are by Scott Slocum.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:49 pm

There you go Lynn, another one in your part of the world, and no invasion stripes. Wonderfull!

T-28mike · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:04 pm

Looks great Doug. It's nice to see her back in natural (and beautifuly polished) metal like she had when Jim first bought it from Elmo. Has it really been 20 years already!!!!!!!

-Muraski

MKD1966 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:06 pm

She looks beautiful !!!!!! Hey Doug, would it be possible for you to post some close up photo's of the name on nose and markings below windscreen when you get her back home ? I see a new model of a mustang that needs to be on my shelf at home... Thanks, Mike

FG1D Pilot · **Joined:** Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:42 am **Posts:** 450

MKD1966 wrote:

She looks beautiful !!!!!! Hey Doug, would it be possible for you to post some close up photo's of the name on nose and markings below windscreen when you get her back home ? I see a new model of a mustang that needs to be on my shelf at home... Thanks, Mike

The "Brat III" is a temporary vinyl. We copied it from his P38 that he flew before getting the P51. As the pictures we have were from when he first got the plane, and don't show the name on it, we are experimenting with how large and best location, before we permanently paint it on. So don't make the model yet.

Django · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:43 pm

A combat vet? I had no idea. That is too cool. Bravo!!!

MKD1966 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:43 pm

FG1D Pilot wrote:

MKD1966 wrote:

She looks beautiful !!!!!! Hey Doug, would it be possible for you to post some close up photo's of the name on nose and markings below windscreen when you get her back home ? I see a new model of a mustang that needs to be on my shelf at home... Thanks, Mike

The "Brat III" is a temporary vinyl. We copied it from his P38 that he flew before getting the P51. As the pictures we have were from when he first got the plane, and don't show the name on it, we are experimenting with how large and best location, before we permanently paint it on. So don't make the model yet.

Thanks for the heads up Doug... I am on your museum's Facebook page and I will keep my eyes open for updates... Will Snort be using this in Heritage Flights like he has the P-40 in the past ?
Mike

FG1D Pilot · **Joined:** Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:42 am **Posts:** 450

Django wrote:

A combat vet? I had no idea. That is too cool. Bravo!!!

Does anyone know if there are any other combat vet P51s in original markings? I know of at least 1 static. It seems that there are a couple, but I can't think of them.

Ztex · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:52 pm

Very nice! Beautiful! etc!

WOW

Dan K · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:22 pm

FG1D Pilot wrote:

The "Brat III" is a temporary vinyl. We copied it from his P38 that he flew before getting the P51. As the pictures we have were from when he first got the plane, and don't show the name on it, we are experimenting with how large and best location, before we permanently paint it on. So don't make the model yet.

Does that mean you're taking suggestions for nose art? :axe:

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:27 pm

You would have to put 3 of those on!

FG1D Pilot · **Joined:** Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:42 am **Posts:** 450

Dan K wrote:

FG1D Pilot wrote:

The "Brat III" is a temporary vinyl. We copied it from his P38 that he flew before getting the P51. As the pictures we have were from when he first got the plane, and don't show the name on it, we are experimenting with how large and best location, before we permanently paint it on. So don't make the model yet.

Does that mean you're taking suggestions for nose art? :axe:

Great, now I'm hungry. And thirsty :drink3:

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:49 pm

Here's one for a start Doug same group Doc Christgau's 44-63675
X-370th FG402nd FS9th AF named Sierra Sue II with 1 kill.

Red Tail · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:56 pm **Posts:** 138

FG1D Pilot wrote:

Django wrote:

A combat vet? I had no idea. That is too cool. Bravo!!!

Does anyone know if there are any other combat vet P51s in original markings? I know of at least 1 static. It seems that there are a couple, but I can't think of them.

Doug,

463675 - Sierra Sue II is a combat vet and wears her original markings on the port side. It served in the 9th AF with at least one confirmed victory scored by Bob Bohna. The starboard side is painted up in the markings it wore post war in the Swedish AF then flown by Sten Soderquist. The airplane recently changed hands and will be fully restored to original specs. Very cool because the airplane has never been "molested" or crashed...it truly is a survivor worthy of this. I can see another Happy Jacks Go Buggy coming out of this restoration but this time the airframe will be nearly all original and will wear her original markings. That I know of, few if any others can claim that distinction and I do not say that to detract from any of the other beautiful restorations out there...they all have merit!

How is the CAF P-47 coming along?

John
CC Red Tail

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:59 pm

I'm sure someone will say Fragile But Agile in TX and Marinell in the UK but to those I say nyet!

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BRAT ATTACK The Cavanaugh Flight Museum's P51 First flight

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