42-106638 P-51B

Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:12 am

Has anyone got information on this restoration - according to MustangsMustangs it is owned by John T Sessions and registered as N5087F.

Apparently there are photos in the latest aeroplane Monthly??

This airframe I think is a new build based on the identity of a 361st FG that crashed in 1945 see http://www.361fg.com/news.htm

Particularly keen to contact the restorers for more information.

Regularly keep an eye on the forums but this must have passed me by.

Any info much appreciated.

Best regards

Jason
www.361fg.com

Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:55 am

Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:14 am

There's a photo in the new Air Classics that says it's almost ready to fly... It is painted in the markings above only it has a malcom hood canopy... It looks beautiful...

Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:02 pm

Nice markings

Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:23 pm

If anyone is able to get some photos of this one, and post them here, that would be awesome! I can't wait to see this one for myself.

And I agree with Warbird Kid, the markings are great, and must definitely look nice fully replicated.

Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:28 pm

Any info in the article indicating time and location of first flight? Display debut? (Might I humbly suggest a certain town in Wisconsin...say around July? :wink:

)

Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:51 pm

I saw it last Sept.; on the way home from GML. Fuselage wasn't on the wing at that time, but everything was looking GOOD! Another excellent job by Pacific Fighters.

Sorry, but the only pictures I have were taken when the fuselage was being built up in the jig a couple of years ago.

Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:12 am

Desperate to get in touch with Pacific Fighters or the owners as apparently the photos show invasion stripes and we are fairly sure this colour scheme never had them.

Any help much appreciated.

Best regards

Jason

Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:24 am

this a/c definitely had full D-Day stripes...

this well known photo shows it... (scan from a dupe in my collection)

detail outtake - the a/c in the center again is 42-106638 E9-V

Martin

Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:34 am

and re. the Malcolm Hood on the rebuild project...... that isn't entirely wrong at all....

here's 42-106638 later in its career.... now coded E9-B.... with Malcolm Hood.

Martin

Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:56 am

It seems that many of the B models within the group were retrofitted with Malcolm hoods eventually, or at least most of the photos I can find of the group show Malcolm hooded Bs. One of the more major pieces that was found of this aircraft was the canopy crank in fact for the hood.

It will be interesting to see if 2008 sees two Malcolm hooded P-51B's take to the air.

I love that color shot, Martin!

Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:17 am

Apologies should have been clearer my information (from Steve Gotts 361st Fg historian) is that it didn't ever have full invasion stripes when she was fitted with the Malcolm hood.

Best regards

Jason