Switch to full style
This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Post a reply

Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Tue Aug 29, 2017 6:20 pm

I was wondering what the current status is of the following mustangs, and any other A, B, or C Mustangs

1. Brent Hinsley's C model
2. P-51A 36006 being restored by Pacific Fighters
3. Lopez Hope should be flying before year is over with
4. Kermit Week's A model out in California
Are there any others out there which I for one don't know about? As usual love the feedback from all Wixer's, and especially John T. Thanks in advance.

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Tue Aug 29, 2017 8:02 pm

The P-51A Pacific Fighters are working on should be done in time for Reno. John Muszala II is on the entry list to race it.

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:48 am

Pacific Fighters have P-51C-1NT 42-103100\P-51 Mk III FB206 for sale...

Designated P-51 Mk III FB206 and assigned to the 306th Polish FG “ The City of Torun squadron” and Fuselage codes where UZ*M. FB206 flew combat missions with the 306th from February 1944 to August of 1944. FB206 also flew on June 6th 1944 for the invasion of Normandy. On July 10th FB206 flew anti V1 Buzz Bomb patrols and on July 22nd it shot down a V-1 over Hastings UK. F/Sgt. Rudowski was credited with the kill. On August 18th 1944 FB206, was involved in a mid air collision with a Mk XIV Spitfire NH713. The rest of the 306th Sq went on to shoot down 16 FW 190s on that same mission.

FB206 crashed into a wooded area in England. The substanital wreckage was recovered and after spending time in a UK Museum, was sold to the current owner.
FB206 is unique in that it is the only surviving P-51B/C or Mustang III with a confirmed Kill.

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 7:02 am

Couger42 wrote:Pacific Fighters have P-51C-1NT 42-103100\P-51 Mk III FB206 for sale...

Designated P-51 Mk III FB206 and assigned to the 306th Polish FG “ The City of Torun squadron” and Fuselage codes where UZ*M. FB206 flew combat missions with the 306th from February 1944 to August of 1944. FB206 also flew on June 6th 1944 for the invasion of Normandy. On July 10th FB206 flew anti V1 Buzz Bomb patrols and on July 22nd it shot down a V-1 over Hastings UK. F/Sgt. Rudowski was credited with the kill. On August 18th 1944 FB206, was involved in a mid air collision with a Mk XIV Spitfire NH713. The rest of the 306th Sq went on to shoot down 16 FW 190s on that same mission.

FB206 crashed into a wooded area in England. The substanital wreckage was recovered and after spending time in a UK Museum, was sold to the current owner.
FB206 is unique in that it is the only surviving P-51B/C or Mustang III with a confirmed Kill.


I desperately hope whomever winds up with FB206 rebuilds it to it's original markings and configuration... not just because it shot down a V-1, but as a tribute to the fierce Polish pilots who fought so valiantly from the opening day of the war to the last.

Lynn

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 8:56 am

lmritger wrote:
Couger42 wrote:Pacific Fighters have P-51C-1NT 42-103100\P-51 Mk III FB206 for sale...

Designated P-51 Mk III FB206 and assigned to the 306th Polish FG “ The City of Torun squadron” and Fuselage codes where UZ*M. FB206 flew combat missions with the 306th from February 1944 to August of 1944. FB206 also flew on June 6th 1944 for the invasion of Normandy. On July 10th FB206 flew anti V1 Buzz Bomb patrols and on July 22nd it shot down a V-1 over Hastings UK. F/Sgt. Rudowski was credited with the kill. On August 18th 1944 FB206, was involved in a mid air collision with a Mk XIV Spitfire NH713. The rest of the 306th Sq went on to shoot down 16 FW 190s on that same mission.

FB206 crashed into a wooded area in England. The substanital wreckage was recovered and after spending time in a UK Museum, was sold to the current owner.
FB206 is unique in that it is the only surviving P-51B/C or Mustang III with a confirmed Kill.


I desperately hope whomever winds up with FB206 rebuilds it to it's original markings and configuration... not just because it shot down a V-1, but as a tribute to the fierce Polish pilots who fought so valiantly from the opening day of the war to the last.

Lynn


100% Agree

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 9:54 am

Lopes Hope as of a week or so ago: Image

Weeks A model from last year: Image

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:43 am

I noticed some months back that the RAF C-model project, 42-103100/FB206, is no longer listed for sale and was never reported sold (as the broker, Platinum Fighter Sales, typically does). If the project is done the way the Muszalas want it to be, I think it is safe to say that it will be very authentically detailed and painted in the original RAF 306 Squadron (Polish) markings. I think ideally, it would be based with an owner in England or Europe - it would be so cool to see a true RAF Mustang, a high-back fitted with a Malcolm hood no less, painted in the original wartime markings and operating on the circuit over there. The surviving section of wing from the original aircraft is really cool, as it still has the original wartime paint, including an RAF roundel painted right over the USAAF stars & bars on the bottom of the wing, with the bars sicking out of the RAF roundel - this was because the USAAF insignia wasn't painted over with any grey paint prior to the application of the RAF roundel, since the existing USAAF neutral grey paint was considered close enough to the RAF medium sea grey (one of those details that should be reproduced in the restoration).

(With Max Chapman having sold "Berlin Express", I wonder if he is or might fund another B/C restoration (of course he was also the original owner of the TP-51C "Betty Jane", also built up by Pacific Fighters).)

In addition to 42-103100/FB206, Pacific Fighters also has the substantial remains of P-51B 43-12112, that was recovered out of a lake in Florida where it had ditched in 1943. Much like the Lake Michigan recoveries of the 90's, I recall seeing a couple photos of the complete fuselage section in storage (tail to nose), still with all of its original paint and trainer code applied to the cowlings. Perhaps one day we'll see this become an active restoration/flyer.

As already mentioned, "Lope's Hope 3rd" and the Pacific Fighters/Dusty Dowd P-51A are set to be completed/flying very soon.

The rebuild of the Beck P-51A, last I saw, was very near completion - I seem to recall some mention at times (as far back as 2012), about having the aircraft finished/flying and brought back to Reno, though I haven't heard/seen anything about the aircraft recently.

With regard to Brent Hisey's P-51C, it has been quite a long-term project - I recall first learning of it in February 2010. Back then, as it is I think still now, the plan is to finish the aircraft as John Thornell's "Patty Ann II" of the 352nd FG (complete with the faux gun ports painted on the wings). I have misplaced where this photo originally came from, but it shows the project as of late 2015 (one can see a very complete tail cone section and the wings underway in the background).

Image

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 10:47 am

florida.warbirds wrote:Lopes Hope as of a week or so ago: Image


Believe it or not, that photo was actually taken back in early-mid July (along with most of the photos in the recent AirCorps Facebook update). Of course a lot of progress has been made since then.

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:08 pm

That was too easy, John T.

What we really want is a status report (& pics) on Warren Pietsch's
P-51C project, N151LP...what's left of the ex- Jimmy Stewart/Joe De Bona/
Jackie Cochrane race #90 "Thunderbird". pop2
Last edited by Dan K on Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:14 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:
lmritger wrote:I desperately hope whomever winds up with FB206 rebuilds it to it's original markings and configuration... not just because it shot down a V-1, but as a tribute to the fierce Polish pilots who fought so valiantly from the opening day of the war to the last.

Lynn

100% Agree

I'm with them. When the project was first posted I thought it was super cool and, if completed like John suggests, will be an amazing addition to the ranks.

That workshop photo of the Ds and Kermit's A...wow!

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 4:35 pm

JohnTerrell wrote:In addition to 42-103100/FB206, Pacific Fighters also has the substantial remains of P-51B 43-12112, that was recovered out of a lake in Florida where it had ditched in 1943. Much like the Lake Michigan recoveries of the 90's, I recall seeing a couple photos of the complete fuselage section in storage (tail to nose), still with all of its original paint and trainer code applied to the cowlings.

That rang a bell. You mean this one?
Image

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:01 pm

Yes, that's the one. One of the time capsule aspects of that fuselage/airframe is that the stars & bars have a darker blue border that was applied over the original red border.

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:12 pm

Dan K wrote:What we really want is a status report (& pics) on Warren Pietsch's
P-51C project, N151LP...what's left of the ex- Jimmy Stewart/Joe De Bona/
Jackie Cochrane race #90 "Thunderbird". pop2


:D

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Thu Aug 31, 2017 6:55 am

Most of you already know regarding "Lope's Hope" but any of the books written by Don Lopez are well worth the read.

Ken

Re: Current Status of the following Razor Back Mustangs

Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:54 pm

I've just read on the AAFO Reno forum that N51Z aka Shanty Irish flew today. Eagerly awaiting pics!
Post a reply