P-51D "HEL-ETER"

[GRNDP51]

According to Airmotive Specialties, the ex- Ridge Runner III is being restored as 457th FS "HEL-ETER"! Love that scheme, they confirmed it will be a TF with the short tail. Still an awesome scheme to be represented!

[Waltz41]

Yep, and I couldn't be more happy about it! We (506th FG) have known about this for a while now but obviously didn't want to spoil the surprise. 527 was part of the 457th Fighter Squadron and originally had a green striped tail. It was piloted by 1st Lt. John Winnen and 1st Lt. Philip Alston. The name Hel-eter is a combination of Winnen's wife's name HELen and son pETER. Alston named the other side Lil-Toddie after his daughter.

[Waltz41]

[Waltz41]

I believe they are doing the later, 2nd version which would have the solid green tail, and if they decide......a few minor changes, including the mission markings and the incomplete 457th squadron insignia.

[JohnTerrell]

I'm glad that the info about the chosen paint scheme is finally made public (as Waltz stated, its been hard to try and keep it secret!). I recall the owner, Pat Harker, has some of those 165-gal tanks as well, like those installed on the original as seen in Waltz41's second post, though I'm sure it would be impractical to ever see them installed on the aircraft today (and would require the wooden sway braces and extra sway brace mounts on the wings). The aircraft is going to be absolutely gorgeous, and I hope it will be quite active. The artwork should also be a great appeal to young kids as well. Regarding the tail, I heard the later, solid green as well - Pat Harker's thinking being that the green tail will hopefully balance out/distract attention from the TF canopy a bit.

[GRNDP51]

Pat Harker as in F-82?? He’s gonna have quite a stable!

Why did he choose to go TF if he cares enough to try to “drown it out” with the green tail?

[JohnTerrell]

That I don't fully recall. He and his brother do have a large stable of aircraft - B-25J, F-82E, Albatross, SNJ, L-13, L-5, L-1 (the full Stinson L-bird trifecta!), O-47 (complete, future restoration project), French Storch (the one that Jerry Yagen sold, and which Pat has been restoring to original stock French configuration/markings), a P-51H (project), and a few others, such as a Bellanca 31-55A (complete, but uncovered) and L-14 and L-15 projects. Its been great to see the L-1 out and about at a couple flying events in Minnesota already this year.

[RyanShort1]

Its been great to see the L-1 out and about at a couple flying events in Minnesota already this year.

I'm Olive Drab with envy...

[4RG.I.'S]

Interesting that she is going from representing serial number 44-72308 to serial number 44-72557 while her identity is 44-72483.
Still a very cool and underrepresented group/paint scheme!

[JohnTerrell]

It's interesting looking at the information presented about it on the MustangsMustangs website. The aircraft's owner in the mid 60's, David Forrest, found through evidence on the airframe that it was 44-72483, however at the time it had been registered as 44-63769, which Forrest had found to have actually crashed during WWII. Through David Forrest's findings, proving it to be 44-72483, it allowed for the aircraft's true past to be revealed, as having been assigned to the 356th FS, 354th FG, 9th Air Force (same squadron markings as "Short-Fuse Sallee"), coded AJ-R, in service during the final days of the war in Europe. Following WWII it served with the Swedish AF as Fv26087 and then flew with the Nicaraguan AF as GN85 (same path that another combat vet, "Sierra Sue II", took). It was at the time it was imported back into the US, in 1963, that it was initially registered with the serial of 44-63769, later corrected by David Forrest to 44-72483, based on his findings. Later, in 1969, the aircraft was acquired by El Salvador and flew as FAS 411. Upon its return to the US in 1975 it was registered under the phony serial of 44-13250 (a Dallas-built P-51D-20-NT ID), for which it is still registered as today. The MustangsMustangs site has it recognized, rightfully, as being P-51D-20-NA 44-72483, despite the current/since 1975 "made up" registered ID of 44-13250.

[4RG.I.'S]

It's interesting looking at the information presented about it on the MustangsMustangs website. The aircraft's owner in the mid 60's, David Forrest, found through evidence on the airframe that it was 44-72483, however at the time it had been registered as 44-63769, which Forrest had found to have actually crashed during WWII. Through David Forrest's findings, proving it to be 44-72483, it allowed for the aircraft's true past to be revealed, as having been assigned to the 356th FS, 354th FG, 9th Air Force (same squadron markings as "Short-Fuse Sallee"), coded AJ-R, in service during the final days of the war in Europe. Following WWII it served with the Swedish AF as Fv26087 and then flew with the Nicaraguan AF as GN85 (same path that another combat vet, "Sierra Sue II", took). It was at the time it was imported back into the US, in 1963, that it was initially registered with the serial of 44-63769, later corrected by David Forrest to 44-72483, based on his findings. Later, in 1969, the aircraft was acquired by El Salvador and flew as FAS 411. Upon its return to the US in 1975 it was registered under the phony serial of 44-13250 (a Dallas-built P-51D-20-NT ID), for which it is still registered as today. The MustangsMustangs site has it recognized, rightfully, as being P-51D-20-NA 44-72483, despite the current/since 1975 "made up" registered ID of 44-13250.

If ya think ya know something about a mustang, go ahead, post it... Then John Terrell will follow up and blow you out of the water with details... Another big thanks John!

[Chris Brame]

O-47 (complete, future restoration project)

Which one? 39-98/N73716 from the Combat Air Museum?

[WIXerGreg]

I'd LOVE to see an O-47 in the air!

[kalamazookid]

Awesome choice of a scheme for that P-51. Pacific Mustangs are still highly underrepresented on warbirds (though that has been changing the last few years) and it's great to see another one being depicted.

Don't want to digress too much, but I've heard talk of an O-52 project somewhere in the Midwest. Given Mr. Harker's interest in observation aircraft, I thought it might be his. Has anyone heard about this?

[JohnTerrell]

Yes, it is the same O-47 that the Combat Air Museum had. The 109th Observation Squadron (Minnesota Air National Guard) was one of the units to operate the type. It was also one of the types that Paul Tibbets flew prior to the US entrance in WWII.

With regard to the O-52 Owl type, there were a couple project airframes (or more like a project and a half) at the same airport, KANE, at least at one time, when owned by Wally Fisk (Amjet). I'm not sure where they're at right now/what's being done with them (would love to know too!). As you mention, it would seem a very likely aircraft for Pat Harker to own/fit very well in the collection.