Stolen Mustang 1970's?

[mike furline]

Anyone remember an ad in Trade a Plane in the late 70's, early 80's about a P-51 that was stolen from Vegas or Reno???

Any ideas what happened?

Regards,
Mike

[Bill Greenwood]

I came into warbirds in 1983, so it would be a few years after that, I recall an ad in Trade A Plane about a Mustang stolen, I thought, from a hangar at Tonapah. I don't think much came of it and was later told it may have been a scam arranged by the owner. I did not know the owner then or recall any other details.

[Warbirdnerd]

It is this one:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 74977.html

[mike furline]

It is this one:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 74977.html

I guess thats the one. In my memory the plane was black or a dark color in the ad pic.
I wonder if it's still damaged or flying now?

Thanks,
Mike

[Bill Greenwood]

Does anyone know the details of the plane being found, if there was any criminal investigation or damage to the plane? It seems the story sort of evaporated as I recall.

[O.P.]

I asked Mrs Coutches about it a long time ago. She said the way it was recovered was,

The people who took it figured out it couldn't be gotten rid of, so they approached the family as if they had found it and wanted the reward. They were promptly arrested. The bad guys had taken some parts off of the plane and had sold them. Otherwise, it turned out ok.

The plane has since went to new owners.

[Django]

Geez, you might as well steal a Picasso.