Warbird Information Exchange

The "Mormon Mustang" rides again


A small air show Friday had a dual purpose -- reintroducing a rebuilt "Mormon Mustang" P-51 fighter and paying tribute to the man who flew the original P-51s that carried the name.

Retired Gen. Roland Wright was flown up from his home in Utah to take a ride in Legacy Flight Museum's "Mormon Mustang."

The P-51 was piloted by local pilot John Bagley, with Wright riding in the back seat of the restored fighter.

The plane had to be brought back to life after a crash on Dec. 21, 2006, on U.S. Highway 20 just north of Main Street.

Bagley walked away from the crash, but the plane was in several pieces.

Now, with a fresh coat of paint and markings just like the original, the plane has rejoined the other historic flyable aircraft at the museum.

Gard Flint, a guide at the Legacy Flight Museum, said Friday's events were held because of gratitude for veterans of World War II.

"The objective of the museum is that people remember what went on in World War II," he said. "We're trying to honor Gen. Wright and the part he played in it and all those who gave their all -- especially those who didn't come back."

Three P-51s and a P-63 King Cobra covered the upper valley and made several high speed passes at the Rexburg Airport.

Pilot Shawn Bagley, who flew the King Cobra, said it's important to remember the magnitude of what young pilots did back then at the controls of such powerful fighters.

"They were just kids," he said. "He's a retired general now, but they were just 18 to 19 years old."

After his ride, Wright said: "That was great --flying in formation! ... It's just exciting for me -- you never think you'll have the chance to do something like this again."

Wright said during the war he was stationed at a base about 85 miles northeast of London and escorted bombers over Germany every day.

"It's like I'm back home again -- I not only flew them there, but later I was one of the first to fly them in the Utah Air National Guard," he said.

Wright said the P-51 was decisive in liberating Europe.

"The problem was when we had to quit daylight bombing because the Germans developed the 20mm cannon," he said. "They could stay outside the range of the B-17 guns and shoot them down. ... The P-51 really made it possible to liberate Europe because they could escort the bombers."

He said it's important for later generations to know about what happened back then.

"I think the thing I'd like them to know is that freedom is the most precious thing we have," he said. "It takes a great sacrifice and effort and that was demonstrated daily. Churchill became one of my heroes. He said, 'If we do not prevail, we will revert to the dark ages, so we will prevail -- we'll never give up,' --that's what liberty and freedom are all about."

A pilot from a later generation added his observation.

"We owe a lot to them," said John Bagley. "They made it possible so we don't have to speak German."

Is this the same Mustang (N8677E ex-RCAF 9258) that used to be owned and flown by Don Novas in Idaho? I recall that it ended up with the name "Mormon Mustang" also, but since that was a period Mustang name as per the article, were there two restorations with that name?

S.

yeah - John was REALLY lucky not to be killed in this. It was a beauty before the crash - Russ McDonald took really good care of the plane until his passing so I am glad to see her back in the air.

Tom P.

Any shots of the new paint scheme?