Since my earlier thread on the subject disappeared into the great cyberspace cemetery I will try unashamed once again. Here is the thread as it started life:
T J Johansen wrote:
I am currently trying to interview former civilian P-51 owners (from 1946 up until the 1970s). It is a case of getting the story from the civilian perspective since WWII. I've got to meet several and have done some taped interviews with a few while in California. I have been in touch mostly with those based in California as that is where I've usually been when in the US. Not to mention the fact that said state has had a good number of civilian Mustangs present over the years.
I am now trying to spread the search a little further and hope some of the good people at WIX might help me here. If you know of any pilots in your vicinity that are known to have been the owner of a 51 I would love for you to pass on information about them to me. Or give them my contact information and let them know I'd love to meet up and do a taped interview when next in the US.
The thing is that one needs to interview these pilots now. Anyone who bought a P-51 in 1965 and was aged 35 is 80 now. The youngest I spoke with on my latest trip was 78! I missed out interviewing Joyce Haven (owner of N2869D) as she passed away three weeks before I arrived in San Francisco...
So, please send any information you can to: onmarkmarketeer*yahoo.com (substitute the * with an @ in the e-mail address)
I am flying to New York in May if all goes to plan. I have one interview more or less lined up in NH and one in upstate NY, but are looking at driving as far west as the OH/ IN border if necessary. That would probably mean NC/ SC if going south by my measure.
On a different forum I was looking for Mickey Rupp, so if anyone has any contact info for him please let me know. Word is re re-located to Ohio. As far as I know he owned 51s since the 60s, and would be an ideal candidate.
So don't be shy, if you owned a 51 post 1946 up until the 1970s, or know someone who did, send me an e-mail!
T J
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