P-51A, P-43A, P-63A in 1953

[mike furline]

Found an interesting photo embedded in an auction on Ebay.

P-51A, 43-6178 Now with Kermit Weeks
https://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/s ... al/43-6178

P-43A, 40-2903
Air Corps Ferrying Command, Hensley Field, Grand Prairie, TX; Accident 13May42 in collision with P-43A 42-2910 landing at Hensley Field;

P-63A, 42-68870 (Appears to have post 1947 Star & Bar insignia.)
Reported as seen in use as an instructional airframe at a trade school, Seymour, IN from 1953-1960

[Chris Brame]

That's got to be the P-43 that Earl Reinert almost rescued in the early '60s - it got scrapped just before he could get it (he got the engine mount/firewall and landing gear). Now we have an ID on it. If you have a link to the auction I'd like to put in a bid, unless you're buying it.
Edit: Found it. $499.77 , geez. Screengrab time!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116718578849

Last edited by Chris Brame on Tue Nov 11, 2025 2:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

I don't recall seeing a P-39 or 63 with post-'47 markings.

[junkman9096]

Looking at his other listings, he appears to have a rather.....inflated view of their worth. But no price is too high if you can find someone to pay it. (Publicity still of a Shelby GT350, single page press release and an envelope=$400. Aaah, no.

[Chris Brame]

OK, did some work on the photos:






Earl and what was left of the P-43, besides the landing gear (IIRC the pieces still exist with another collector):


Found the newspaper listing; from the Indianapolis Star-Tribune, September 6, 1953, page 34:

Last edited by Chris Brame on Tue Nov 11, 2025 4:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris Brame]

But wait, there's more! On the same page, listed above the fighters, were three B-24s at the former NAS Bunker Hill:


I ran the serials through Baugher:

(42-)78774 registered 1966 to J. S. Ingram, Dallas, TX as N79426.
(44-)48812 (TB-24J) to RFC Chanute Mar 31, 1947. Became N79427.
(44-)48838 (TB-24J) to RFC Chanute Mar 31, 1947. Before leaving USAF service, was converted to C-87. To civilian registry as N79428, then CP-618 of Compania Boliviana de Aviacion. Crashed May 21, 1960 at El Alta, 10 km from La Paz shortly after takeoff. 1 killed, 2 injured.

Anyone have more info on them?