Cavalier data plate identification needed

[flyboyj]

Yep - that's him! many thanks for posting!!!!

[fahnach]

Mike, I cannot understand what the trouble seems to be. Perhaps you may want to try and click the link on my first posting, as I have verified it and it works, however, should you continue having trouble with let me know via PM and I will be glad to send you the photo at your request.

Saludos,

[Mike Bates]

It's working now! Great picture, you have any more of their P-38's?

Mike

[fahnach]

Hi Mike,

Yes, I have a few other photos of Honduran P-38s. I am currently out of town, so please give me a couple of days before I add a few more.

With regard to the photo posted on December 13, the correct caption should read, from left to right:
Lt. Mario Chinchilla C., 2nd Lt. Omar Ramírez Q., 2nd Lt. Jesús Aguilar C., Capt. Michael Alba, Lt. Col. Hernán Acosta Mejía and Capt. Enrique Soto Cano.

Saludos,


Hope for the Best, plan for the Worst

[zorro7]

..and back to the id plates.

The enclosed pic of TF-51D, AF 67-14866 give us an idea of what they look like. The '68 models had a black background with white letters. BTW, while we may never find the actual FAS 404 plate, there is a drawing deep in the archives of the Honduras History Museum that details the exact location of the crash (not in scale UTM map) with the FAS 404 written at the bottom corner. Author Ukn. c. 1970s. Pic www via J. Dilworth.

[fahnach]

Mike,

Please check second photo of FAH P-38s.

Caption reads: Lt. Jesús Aguilar C. returns from a patrol mission near the Nicaraguan border, September 1957.

Photo credit: FAH collection

Saludos,

[Randy Haskin]

If anyone wants to verify a dataplate they believe came from FAS 404, please send me a PM or email and I can supply the details. I have a very clear photo of the cockpit dataplate after it was built in 1968. Since the FAS airplanes didn't have serial numbers, the only way you'll be able to identify the plate as having come from FAS 404 is by the construction date. This was the only FAS Mustang built on this date.

There are three dataplates: one inside the cockpit and two other plates that would have been on the top of the gear doors that would have looked similar.

There is also the radio call placard from the instrument panel.

[zorro7]

Randy:

Good day!

Those are the best news that we've heard in years of FAS P-51 research data. I believe the same FAS 404 radio call placard surfaced recently at the FAS forum in a modeling discussion also. Excellent research data. Tks

p.s Plz ck your pm.

[zorro7]

TF-P-51D Folks:

Found this polaroid pic while looking for other stuff. I 'm sure it has an ID plate somewhere but it looks like the forbidden side of the poss FAS 404 II. Maybe some other folks would help with the iD also. Photo via JR c. Jan-1973

[Marco Lavagnino]

The picture shows P-51D FAS 409, one of the stock Mustangs (44-11153, sold as N34FF in 1974), not a Cavalier Mustang II. It did not have any ID plates located on the landing gear doors either.
There is an FG-1D Crosair in the background ( either FAS 215 or 220, the only 2 operational survivors of the war), picture was taken at Ilopango airport. Both FAS 409 and the Corsair show very deteriorated camo scheme + yellow fuselage & wing bands, definitely dating the picture after the 100 hour war was over.
Anyway, the original picture has got the date of development printed on the frame, it says "JAN . 73".

Marco

[fahnach]

Randy, one fragment of the Salvadoran Cavalier shot down in Honduras, bears the number 109-61808 (which seems to coincide with the N.A. Mustang construction numbers).
Should you have further questions or may want photos of other fragment/components, please let me know at: amadoaguiluz@gmail.com
(sorry, I seem to have lost your e-mail address).

http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/amado1945/

[fahnach]

[quote="fahnach"] ... bears the number 109-61808 (which seems to coincide with the N.A. Mustang construction numbers).

Obviously, NOT a construction number, but could it somehow lead to a possitive identification of the airframe?
I also have another small fragment with this number on it: 54B3735

[RareBear]

fahnach,

The number 109-61808 is most likely a North American Aviation part number. The prefix "109" indicates that the aircraft is a P-51D.

Walt