BRAT ATTACK The Cavanaugh Flight Museum's P51 First flight

[FG1D Pilot]

Sierra Sue was the one I was referring to, but couldnt remember the name.

[51fixer]

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

Nyet to you too.
FBA has at least a fuselage that is original to its current identity and to its combat history.
I've seen it, no one paid me anything to say it. It is what it is.
If you have laid eyes on it and can refute what was scratched in the metal, you can add to the debate.
Otherwise don't throw stones.

[spookythecat]

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.

Got two based at Paine Field

[John S]

Very nice, and congrats on getting it back in the air!
Just curious, what was the photo plane and who was flying it?

[FG1D Pilot]

I was flying Scotts bonanza. Ronnie Gardner was flying the P 51 in all but the head on, which was Stewart Dawson

[mlenoch]

Did Doc sell Sierra Sue recently?
Thx,
VL

[Jack Cook]

FBA has at least a fuselage that is original to its current identity and to its combat history

I must be a little thick in the head here so bear with me.
1. It served in the SP in 1945.
2. Somehow made it to Israel.
3. Restored in Israel and sold to the UK and flown with a "incorrect" ID has Twight Tear for years.
4. Came to the states and lost it's ID in a legal bro ha ha to the real 44-63864 in MN.
5. New and real ID discovered accidently??? By a name scratched in the fuselage???
My questions.........
1. since it was unpainted did nobody see these scratches until after it lost its ID?
2. Why does the photo I provided and posted here on wix before this happened clearly show the ID has 44-11018??
Please don't tell that's really a 6 in the photo and PLEASE don't tell me it's a replacent rudder and they repainted
the s/n incorrectly. That's a factory stencil (I've got tons of photos show field applied s/n's and not one looks that
good ie factory fresh.
3. any photos of the scratches which revealed the true ID??
4. Any wartime photos showing the FBA name with the 411016 s/n??
BTW Lt Lee has no connection with the name FBA and the wartime photo shows does not show his name or kills.
His kills were in P-47Ds I believe.
I mean the a/c is beautiful but for the true history...................................................
Jack who was previously accused of throwing stones and now has him flame suit on.
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=180251

[Lynn Allen]

Well done to Nelson and Doug....

Lynn

[Stoney]

Looks good Doug, hopefully we will see you and it at OSH.

[Baldeagle]

BRAT looks great

How original are Miss Helen and Upopa Epops?

[Django]

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.

Doug, can you post a pic of his P-38? I'm curious how it's placed on the Lightning, because on the Mustang, it seems smaller than the majority of Mustang nose art. Some other pics of Mustangs in the squadron in the same time period would go a long way to help decide how to do the lettering. That's what I have been doing on the CAF Mustang nose art project I have been working on, by studying the predominant lettering style and creating the same style for the name that is required. That way there is some sense of implied authenticity because it looks just like it could have come from X Squadron, at X timeframe based on known photos.

[tex-fan]

looks GREAT! is it still at ezell's ? or is it back in addison?

[lmritger]

Ok, I think this is now my all-time favorite restored Mustang photo.

That is seriously bad-a$$... well done to all involved with this restoration and photo session!!!



Lynn

[FG1D Pilot]

Here is "The Brat", a little larger and moved slightly

[FG1D Pilot]

Django, Here is a photo from the book "The 370th Fighter Group in WWII by Jay Jones. It has hundreds of photos of P38s and P51s that flew in the group.



Here is Lt. Johnsen when he first got his P38 " The Brat". They had the squadron patch on the nose