Warbird Information Exchange

There's a pretty clear photo of the FAS 400 wreckage out there. Unfortunately, I don't have permission to post it.

What it shows is that the cockpit section survived intact; the engine was ripped off, but things look okay from the firewall back. The left wing is severely damaged (possibly also by a post-crash fire), but from what you can see in the photo the right wing is relatively lightly damaged. The empennage is difficult to assess, but the vertical stabilizer is straight and the left part of the horizontal is bent up about 30 degrees.

IMHO, it shows that the cockpit section was very rebuildable, so the Baldocchi story is very plausible.

The handwritten caption on the photo muddies the waters, as it says, "Accidente Mustang, 1969, Capt Bolanos, Mayor Lobo."

Of course, Bolanos and Lobo were the crew on the FAS 402 crash in October 1968. This is definitely a case of mis-attribution of the photo, as the aircraft in the photo is positively a Cavalier TF-51 (ergo FAS 400) and FAS 402 was not.

FWIW, I've heard the opposite story about the crash -- that it was Bustillo who had to pull out the front-seater who was unconscious! Just goes to prove how much mixed-up information is out there!

Randy;

That may be very well the case of the poss FAS 400 whereabouts but perhaps the question to ask to the P-51 restoration folks is what's exactly involve to convert a P-51D into a TF P-51D? How complex this project is? etc.

We still have a few FAS P-51s crashed pics to dig. Including the one of a poss FAS P-51 in a crate somewhere in the US.c. 1970s. We'll post it as soon as as we inventory some boxes & see what kind of clues will offer to the FAS 400 mystery!!

FAH619/Lone Eagle

FAS TF-51 Folks:

The original crash of the TF-51 FAS 400 crew was Capt Bolan`os & Maj Lovo. This aircraft did not burned but took quite a hit on the take off crash- landing. c. late 1969.

According to the FAS Folks it was the second home built TF-P-51 (FAS 404 II) that crashed & burned during a night take off with with Col. Bustillo & the late Maj Mario Encarnacion Echeverria as GIB. c. 1970s. The latest had to be flown to Houston, TX several time for treatments.

FAS 400 Folks:

Just heard that FAS Capt E. Echeverria went West a few years ago! Any chance of someone getting a hold of Mr.J.Flaherty pictures of FAS P-51 collection and see what kind of numbers did he capture?? Or how the aircraft reached the late G. Plaskett in S. California??

The FAS Museum pic shows a poss Capt B.Trabanino & Mr. Baldochii (dark suit) comparing notes about the crash. The other pic that Randy talks about is not a clear pic but a picture showing a semi-destroyed FAS TF-51 FAS 400. The FAS folks also have a picture fm a local Neswapaper c. 1970s showing the final wreck of a FAS TF-51 that crashed at ilopango c. 1970s.

There is another poss source with better photos of this whole FAS 400 saga & is still cooking as Nov/2013!!

P.S How time flies!!