XP-51J survivor myth?

[L. Thompson]

It has been a long time since the subject of the alleged XP-51J survivor was discussed.

Not to be confused at all with John Morgan's XP-51G.

The J was supposedly found in an estate sale of a former Allison executive that had lived in the Washington D.C. area. This colorful story dates back to the late 80's.

Has there been any conclusive proof of a hoax on this whole thing, or are there any new hints of real evidence in the last few years?

[p51dman]

The supposed owner of that sole "possibly" remaining J model contacted me about 1990, and told me the story about finding it in an estate sale in the Baltimore area. I talked with him several times and passed on to him all the data and photos I could find on the J model. At the time, he seemed to be about 75% plausable. He claimed to be an airline pilot and when I asked him which airline he flew for, slightly changed his story to the fact that he flew for a "Government" airline. When I quickly rattled off the names of all the CIA operated airlines I knew about, he agreed that it was one of them, but would not say which one. That dropped it to about 60% in my mind. He had mentioned to me that he was short the Allison engine needed for the J and asked if I knew where he might locate one.
I was in touch with John Sandberg in those days, as we both lived here in the Twin Cities area, and when I asked him about an Allison V1710-119, he asked me if that nut case with the "J" had also talked to me. Now I was down to about 25%. From converstaions with a few other folks in that time frame, like Nelson Ezell and some other mustang builders, the concensus of opinion was that the guy was a "dreamer" and possibly a model builder, with very high hopes. As far as I know, no one has heard from him for about 13 years.

Dick Phillips

[HarvardIV]

I think this guy is a con man who attended one of the WW2 fighter group reunions, and claimed to be in their squadron during the 2nd war. They said "do you remember him in the squadron"? Then they asked him some tough questions, and he turned up to be a fraud. He was also was the speaker, and they threw him out.

This guy called me, and told me he was a U-2 pilot who force landed in Shemya when his canopy supposedly shattered. His story was very convincing. However a couple of "holes" appeared in it, and I asked some questions which he tried to evade. This brought about some warning flags in my mind. Finally he said he knew a gentleman at the Fighter Factory, and when I talked him verified that this guy is a complete and total liar.

(hint: pm me his name, and I'll confirm it for you)

[Randy Haskin]

As far as I know, no one has heard from him for about 13 years.

Dick, do you know if anyone attepted to actually go see the parts and pieces?

[mlenoch]

In continuing this thread somewhat, is there any truth to the rumor of a long-lost P-51H hiding somewhere in the Minneapolis area? I've heard this twice from former P-51D owners. Thx.

[p51dman]

Vlado and all,
I'm glad you brought this up again. It had slipped my mind. Several years ago, in the hey days of Wally Fisk's POLAR AIR Museum, I was starting to write up the history of each of Wally's planes, and was going over the paperwork they had on each of the planes. On one of those days, Mike Nixon was also there, supervising the uncrating of a Merlin he had just shipped to POLAR for their P-51. During some casual conversation, Nixon said that he cold only stay there until about noon, as he had to go into Minneapolis and see the people he had just shipped a -9 Merlin to for an H model. My ears perked up and when I asked him who that was for or what airplane, he clammed up and reminded himself that he shouldn't have even mentioned anything about it. Fisk asked him for more info and also got no reply. I made inquiries all over town, but no one seemed to know anything. There was speculation that it might have been one of the mustangs damaged during the huge thunderstorm of 22 July 1951. I have a list of the damaged P-51D's and a note that says there were 16 more mustangs and a B-26 on the ramp that were also damaged that day, that were visiting aircraft. It could have been one of those, that was sold for scrap, but somehow got into private hands.
That's all I know about the subject.

[HarvardIV]

It could've been at the Dupage airport in Michigan. Supposedly, there are quite a few warbirds over there in storage.

[bdk]

It could've been at the Dupage airport in Michigan. Supposedly, there are quite a few warbirds over there in storage.

Do you mean this one?:

http://www.dupageairport.com/

ABOUT DuPAGE AIRPORT
DuPage Airport Authority lies within the city limits of West Chicago, Illinois, 30 miles due west of Chicago. Encompassing 2800 acres, DuPage is a Designated Reliever general aviation airport.

DuPage is the third busiest airport in the state, following Chicago O'Hare and Midway Airports. In 2002, DuPage had 178,356 operations (take-offs and landings), making it the 103th busiest airport in the nation (3rd busiest in Illinois). DuPage currently has over 450 based aircraft, more than any other in Illinois; of those, 90 are turboprops and corporate jets.

I used to go there to the airshow as a kid. Not in Michigan though... Bill Ross used to be based there as I recall.

[HarvardIV]

Yes that's the one! Heard of quite a few Corsairs there!

[TimAPNY]

Maybe some of those are hidden in barns for a reason (i.e. Corsairs, hellcats, wildcats...). Would not surprise me one bit.

Or if they are like some of my family, its long sense been buried under mountains of junk that they have collected over years. My Uncle had an old car that was lost under just such a mountain of junk.