P-51D, 44-73029 cons#122-39488 Photos?

[mlenoch]

This aircraft is 'El Gato Rapido' restored by Wil Martin at Midway Airport in the 1970s.

[airnutz]

Hi TJ, I couldn't get your link to work..access verboten was the message.
As for Lynn's response, I assumed Doc's office photo was of "Lou IV",
but Lynn would have to confirm that for you. It would be interesting to
know if he had some photos of the early-CAF '51's as well.

Kenneth, That looks like no CAF scheme I recall. Is that some kinda
doctored FANicaragua scheme? When I say early CAF..I mean white with
red tips and spinner/or nose-bowl and blue accent stripes. I never saw
any of Doc's earlier '51's..just "Lou IV". Thanks folks...

[T J Johansen]

Hi TJ, I couldn't get your link to work..access verboten was the message.
As for Lynn's response, I assumed Doc's office photo was of "Lou IV",
but Lynn would have to confirm that for you. It would be interesting to
know if he had some photos of the early-CAF '51's as well.

Kenneth, That looks like no CAF scheme I recall. Is that some kinda
doctored FANicaragua scheme? When I say early CAF..I mean white with
red tips and spinner/or nose-bowl and blue accent stripes. I never saw
any of Doc's earlier '51's..just "Lou IV". Thanks folks...

Hi Nutz,

Here is the photo of N835J:

The two photos Kennsmithf2g has submitted is as Vlado points out Will Martins 44-72446 N12700. The scheme is a bogus Costa Rican AF paint job. I remember having an old magazine (Air Progress???) where the owner (obviously Martin) wrote of the problems in recovering the plane, the restoration etc. Interesting article. Unfortunately this magazine has disappeared over the years, so does anyone out there remember it, got it, and can scan it for me?

T J

[Tulio]

It was indeed, a fake Costa Rican AF paint job.
Rudder colors in the photos show the Costa Rican flag colors.

Costa Rica did not and does not have an air force.

The closest they came to have one was during the 1950s, when 4 F-51Ds were hastily acquired in the USA, to fight an invasion from Nicaragua. One was promptly lost in an accident, and the others were eventually left to languish and after a while, returned to the USA.

Markings were large numerals from 1-4, on bare metal as far as I know.

Nice photos of the airplane at the CAF AirSho.

This shot, from airliners:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=820786


Saludos,


Tulio

[Lynn Allen]

Hi TJ, I couldn't get your link to work..access verboten was the message.
As for Lynn's response, I assumed Doc's office photo was of "Lou IV",
but Lynn would have to confirm that for you. It would be interesting to
know if he had some photos of the early-CAF '51's as well.


Yes, its the Lou IV paint, always the first photo I looked at everytime I went in. All his pictures are signed to greasy fingers!


Cheers,

Lynn