New Squadron Mate for "Lope's Hope 3rd"

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2020 1:07 pm

The Dakota Territory Air Museum's P-51D 44-73437 (N376TM), which was first completed/flown last year, has just come out of paint at Custom Aircraft Refinishing, finished in the markings of the 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, matching its stablemate, the P-51C "Lope's Hope 3rd", also owned by the DTAM. The two together will really be a unique sight.

https://www.facebook.com/aircraftpainti ... 742430111/
https://www.facebook.com/aircraftpainti ... 0402379799

Just needs the AN-104 antenna mast and MN-20 loop antenna added to the back of the fuselage (of which I wish I had any of those to offer).

mazdaP5 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:04 pm

Beautiful!

DH82EH · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:07 pm

Yeah, that's really nice.
Thanks for posting John.

Andy

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:44 am

Nice to see something besides 4th, 352nd and 357th FG these days. And not an 8th AF paint either but rather Pacific theater. Quite refreshing.

First D model to wear this since Bill Harrison's N51HA in the late 1970s.

Very good. :drink3:

T J

k5083 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:10 am

Looks nice. Working on a skin, John?

Would look nice with the Lope's Hope 3rd one recently released as a pandemic freebie by Virtual Aircraft Restoration.

I find that I do already have a couple skins for this unit, "Lillian's LImousine" and "Nok Out" by Jan for the A2A. Not very clean and shiny though.

August

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:10 am

That's great. Love they are from the same squadron. Be interesting to see if they choose a particular scheme with nose art. Either way, kudos to them!

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:27 pm

This photo by Bernie Vasquez was just shared on the "P51 Mustang Projects & Restorations" Facbook page showing it with the nose art of "Miss Kitty III" applied, flown by Capt J. D. Rosenbaum.

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:29 pm

JohnTerrell wrote:

This photo by Bernie Vasquez was just shared on the "P51 Mustang Projects & Restorations" Facbook page showing it with the nose art of "Miss Kitty III" applied, flown by Capt J. D. Rosenbaum.

https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5F41AFF4

Thanks for sharing John. Love it. Doesn't all have to be the big name, well known birds. Everyone of them were a hero, but now Capt. Rosenbaum is going to get his due!

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:18 pm

Love it. Nice to see something other than 8th Air Force and a perfect companion for Lope's Hope.

marine air · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:22 pm

Matching airplanes always look great.

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:35 pm

It was mentioned on the AirCorps Aviation Facebook page that the DTAM's matching P-51C "Lope's Hope 3rd" and P-51D "Miss Kitty III" will be the subject of an upcoming Scott Slocum photo shoot.

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2020 7:38 am

Cool scheme!!!!

From the company that painted it:
http://www.aircraftrefinishing.com/default.asp
https://www.facebook.com/aircraftpaintingwarbirds/photos/a.554614667935393/3135830909813743/?type=3&theater

Did not find any info on it. Static?

Edit....that's the Tri-State Zero! Cool....
https://www.facebook.com/135466413178650/videos/1628567167201893/

Quote:

Tri-State Aviation, Inc
July 24, 2017 ·
Sorry for the major delay on the status of the Zero. It was reassembled after paint last week. Many people went above and beyond the call of duty to get this done on time. We would like to thank Ryan Underwood and Randy Kraft of air corp for their Herculean effort into the nights and weekends. Also, Charlie at CJ Aviation for helping with fuel flow analysis. Also Ryan Toews for his amazing research on markings and original parts. Earl Calverly for parts and technical support. Roy Kieffer and his merry band at custom aircraft refinishing inc. for paint and final assembly. Without them selflessly working along side of us into the nights we never would have made our deadline.

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2020 9:49 am

Yes, that's the A6M2 most commonly known as the "Blayd" Zero, which was owned/operated by the Texas Flying Legends Museum for several years and was sold to Ron Lauder in 2018. It was at Custom Aircraft Refinishing for paint in 2017, after it was repaired at AirCorps Aviation and Tri-State Aviation following the incident in 2016 when the TFLM Corsair was taxied into the tail of the Zero.

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Tue Jul 28, 2020 4:24 pm

A couple more photos shared by the Dakota Territory Air Museum and Bernie Vasquez on Facebook.

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New Squadron Mate for "Lope's Hope 3rd"

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