Warbird Information Exchange

Took a recent trip to the Philippines and stopped by the Air Force Museum In Manila.
I was fortunate in that the museums director was there and they were in the process of dismantiling the Pinto/Cali to hang it on a poll to make room where it was for other displays. I asked to get a cockpit shot and was granted, also asked to take one of the Mustang cockpit. Although I was not allowed up there he kindly took my little point and shoot and snapped a couple. Although not the best it is beter than nothing!
I was quit surprised at how much was still in the cockpit especially the gunsight! Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is a K-14?
Unfortunatly I was not able to make it over to the general aviation side to try and get some close ups of the goonies & Connie as I was time contrained. Next trip!!




The prop turns but was told only half of the engine is in place.

Missing the oil cooler



Left wheel well


Right wheel well


Tail wheel



The radio call tag is also still in place but I am unable to read it from what was taken, but I think the true I.D. has been established? The next trip will make it a goal to get a closer pic.




Interesting sidenote. The guns are in fact the wrist pins for the pistons! Clever!










As told to me, the guages are incorrect and they just used what they had as spares.

That Mustang looks to be a mess, both damaged and corroded. Glad it is inside now.

Any idea what the history is on this P-51?

Thank you Steve for sharing these photos! I think that is the Mustang that is believed by some to be 44-73733 - a fairly late P-51D-25-NA. It remains listed on a few sites, such as 'MustangsMustangs', as serial number unknown. It is neat to see as much remaining in the cockpit as there is, and you're right about the gun sight being a K-14 - it's a later variant, with the extra dial on the side and the side supports for the glass.

I should add that a unique item that can be seen, is that the shelf spanning the radio rack is for the SCR-695 IFF set 'box'. The aircraft is likely of the late configuration that would have the battery in the engine compartment, as opposed to the aft cockpit (as that was a change that occurred when the SCR-695 set began being installed on late production P-51D's). One of the tell-tale signs of this would be a small vent scoop on the port-side wing-to-fuselage fairing, which is abscent from the airplane right now due to what looks to be a replacement fairing that was fabricated for the airplane for display.

Thank you John for the added info. My Paul Coggin book "Mustang Survivors" lists a different S/N but I do not have that in front of me.
Here is the outdoor displays plus the Connie and some DC-3's on the other side. I think I've heard in the past the brown one is a DST with the door on the right. Next time I plan on getting over there. Hopefully before the Connie gets scrapped!

And the rest.









The wheel wells of the T-6 where eaten up with corrosion just as bad as the Mustang

Sorry, all I can say is what a waste. It seems some could/should be returned to flying status instead of rotting away.

Especially the Connie, one of mine on the bucket list to fly...

Can you post the original image of this. You never know someone might be able to read the tag after messing a bit with the image.

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

Is that a Varga Kachina in one of the pics? Ever since I saw one parked at what is now a soccer field near the Trenton-Mercer Airport in New Jersey, I want one..... would also like to have that Albatross, among the list.

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"According to the map, we've only gone 4 inches."

That's a T-34 Mentor.

There are a couple of Kachinas on Barnstormers right now.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

Is the Cali as intact as it looks? Sticking it on a pole will reverse that quick enough...sad way to go for the last one.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
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DBF

I will do that for you Mon. morn. The aforementioned Paul Coggan books list her as 44-74627.

It is complete, they were in the process of removing the tail and I couldn't get the whole
thing without people in it. I'll post pics of the other parts Mon. morn.

I didn't know the Philippines used the H-52/S-62. Did a little looking around and found this. Got a few hours in them things. Wouldn't mind knowing the numbers of the Goat too.