One-Of-A-Kind Mustang P-51C ( and friends )

black mamba · November 3, 2011

The Mustang P-51 B/C models were the same. It depends upon where they were made. If they were made in Dallas, as this one was, they were called a "C" model. I forget where the "B" models were made ( in California, I think ). In any event, the "B" and the "C" models were the same. The B/C Mustangs were slightly faster than the following early-production bubble-canopy "D" models due, primarily, to the fact that they had thinner wings.

This Mustang you see here is the only dual-control P-5!C known to still exist. Very few were made to start with and this is the sole survivor. This one is owned by the Collins Foundation. It was in a plane like this that Eisenhower was flown over the Omaha beachhead on June 6, 1944.

They were offering rides in this plane. The gentleman in the rear seat just paid $2200 for a 30 minute ride...an hours ride went for $3200.

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5. B-17G

6. B-24

DaddyO · November 4, 2011

Heck Tom... You must have been carrying VIP status to get into special positions to get these.

Prop blur is right on the money. Nice job on all the shots.

Had to look up the thing about Ike flying on June 6 in P51B. Best I can find is this so far of accounts for July 4 ....

http://354thfightergroup.homestead.com/

And this site on page 295....

This site Item #14 end of page mentions June 6.

hmmmm

black mamba · November 4, 2011

DaddyO wrote: »

Heck Tom... You must have been carrying VIP status to get into special positions to get these.
Prop blur is right on the money. Nice job on all the shots.

Had to look up the thing about Ike flying on June 6 in P51B. Best I can find is this so far of accounts for July 4 ....

http://354thfightergroup.homestead.com/

And this site on page 295....

This site Item #14 end of page mentions June 6.

hmmmm

Boy, it's great to hear from you, Michael. I hope we'll be seeing some postings from you soon.

I was a bit surprised myself to read of Ike's flight over Omaha Beach on invasion day. The reference to that flight was on an info sheet handed to me by one of the Collins Foundation guys. I assume the info is correct....however, I'm not sure I'd bet the house on it.

When that B-24 went by me, I was about 10 feet from its wingtip. They wanted donations of $450
to go up in either the B-24 or the B-17. Since I had been up in the B-17 on a previous occasion, I passed this time.

Take care,

Tom

Panther · November 4, 2011

Howdy Tom,

Really, really neat images, I'll bet that has to be such a thrill

no matter how many times you get to witness it.

All the great details and colors, made great images.

moose135 · November 4, 2011

Very nice work, Tom! BTW, the B-models were built in the North American plant in Southern California.

ian408 · November 4, 2011

The Collins Foundation does some great work toward keeping the old war birds flying.

You did the C proud

black mamba · November 5, 2011

Panther wrote: »

Howdy Tom,

Really, really neat images, I'll bet that has to be such a thrill

no matter how many times you get to witness it.

All the great details and colors, made great images.

Yo Craig,

Thankfully, the thrill of being around old war birds has never diminished for me. I've been blessed over the years to enjoy many, many exposures to them.....and I get really excited every time.

If someone is an aviation buff, and they're in the Orlando, FL area, they NEED to check out the Fantasy of Flight attraction just off I-4. It's owned and operated by Kermit Weeks and is one of the true meccas for war birds.

Take care,

Tom

black mamba · November 5, 2011

moose135 wrote: »

Very nice work, Tom! BTW, the B-models were built in the North American plant in Southern California.

Hi Moose,

It feels great to have the recognition and kind words from one of the really good aviation photographers out there. Thanks for your support.

Tom

black mamba · November 5, 2011

ian408 wrote: »

The Collins Foundation does some great work toward keeping the old war birds flying.

You did the C proud

Thanks, Ian, for the visit and for the nice comment. Thank goodness there are organizations like the Collins Foundation that bear the burden of doing the great work that you refer to.

Tom

DaddyO · November 7, 2011

black mamba wrote: »

Boy, it's great to hear from you, Michael. I hope we'll be seeing some postings from you soon.

I was a bit surprised myself to read of Ike's flight over Omaha Beach on invasion day. The reference to that flight was on an info sheet handed to me by one of the Collins Foundation guys. I assume the info is correct....however, I'm not sure I'd bet the house on it.

When that B-24 went by me, I was about 10 feet from its wingtip. They wanted donations of $450
to go up in either the B-24 or the B-17. Since I had been up in the B-17 on a previous occasion, I passed this time.

Take care,

Tom

Ya know that red rear view mirror on the 51 was stolen off a Spitfire don't ya?

If I'd have been there, it would have been me doing the unscrewing to have it.

Must have been exhilarating to have been that close to the B 24 as it rolled by. Too cool.
Lucky you!

On all the shots too.

On the other thing... I guess if they say it happened, then well, I guess there's a maybe so. But like
you I gotta wonder. The skies must have been really busy then to have Ike feel free to do a look see
of any kind.

We had The Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aviation do a show up at the Nampa Idaho airport
with a B17 and B25. I didn't get to go. I'd have done the walk through but can't afford the flight.
Oh well. Theres always next year or so. All my flight pics this year were crap already, so I also wasn't
too thrilled at the idea of getting more aweful shots. All I got as was/were some good prop blur from too damn far away or just bad location shots. Could have been poor skills too. Nuts!!! :cry

On another note, theres this fellow I've known for sometime now that shares his experiences of
being with the Red Raiders. Going in from the US to AU via Hawaii and other hops along the way. I
settle in the hear every little thing he cares to say about it. He is ninety something now. Still working his little pro machine shop as he is able to. George Renklau Collection
under image galleries.

black mamba · November 8, 2011

DaddyO wrote: »

Ya know that red rear view mirror on the 51 was stolen off a Spitfire don't ya?
If I'd have been there, it would have been me doing the unscrewing to have it.

Must have been exhilarating to have been that close to the B 24 as it rolled by. Too cool.
Lucky you! On all the shots too.

On the other thing... I guess if they say it happened, then well, I guess there's a maybe so. But like
you I gotta wonder. The skies must have been really busy then to have Ike feel free to do a look see
of any kind.

We had The Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aviation do a show up at the Nampa Idaho airport
with a B17 and B25. I didn't get to go. I'd have done the walk through but can't afford the flight.
Oh well. Theres always next year or so. All my flight pics this year were crap already, so I also wasn't
too thrilled at the idea of getting more aweful shots. All I got as was/were some good prop blur from too damn far away or just bad location shots. Could have been poor skills too. Nuts!!! :cry

On another note, theres this fellow I've known for sometime now that shares his experiences of
being with the Red Raiders. Going in from the US to AU via Hawaii and other hops along the way. I
settle in the hear every little thing he cares to say about it. He is ninety something now. Still working his little pro machine shop as he is able to. George Renklau Collection
under image galleries.

I've been up in a B-25. Unquestionably, the loudest airplane I've ever flown in....or so it seems. My friends P-51 may be louder but I always have superior head phones on when I get in that thing.

I really enjoyed the piece about the Red Raiders. Thanks for the lead to their story. I'm going to do more reading about that unit.

Take care my friend,

Tom

austinado16 · November 9, 2011

Awesome photos!!

The 24, the 25, and one of the 17s usually come through here in about May. I always go if I'm not busy....and if I am, I try to go anyway. When my daughter was 5, the 17 "Fuddy Duddy" was here. My brother and I spent most of the day there at the airport and he took a ride in the morning. Around lunch time, we asked if we could clean it up for them because it was filthy. They said "Sure" and showed us where the boxes of rags, paint thinner cans, and 6' ladders were. Then the entire crew left to go have lunch somewhere. It was time to pick up my daughter from school, so I grabbed her, and the 3 of us spent the afternoon, by ourselves, mopping down that bomber.....all the while, visitors were taking tours! It was a real honor, and I have some great shots of a 5 year old girl polishing engine cowlings while high up on a ladder.

black mamba · November 9, 2011

austinado16 wrote: »

Awesome photos!!

The 24, the 25, and one of the 17s usually come through here in about May. I always go if I'm not busy....and if I am, I try to go anyway. When my daughter was 5, the 17 "Nine-O-Nine" was here. My brother and I spent most of the day there at the airport and he took a ride in the morning. Around lunch time, we asked if we could clean it up for them because it was filthy. They said "Sure" and showed us where the boxes of rags, paint thinner cans, and 6' ladders were. Then the entire crew left to go have lunch somewhere. It was time to pick up my daughter from school, so I grabbed her, and the 3 of us spent the afternoon, by ourselves, mopping down that bomber.....all the while, visitors were taking tours! It was a real honor, and I have some great shots of a 5 year old girl polishing engine cowlings while high up on a ladder.

Boy, if all the work you guys put in didn't qualify you for a free ride, there's no justice in the world.
Believe me, I KNOW what it takes to keep one of these planes clean. BTW, that's the " Nine-0-Nine "
you see here in my shot of a B-17G. If I remember correctly, The B-17 I went up in was named " Aluminum Overcast ".

austinado16 · November 9, 2011

Just went looking for photos. Looks like it was the "Fuddy Duddy" that we got to clean. My photos show silver aluminum body/wings/engine nacelles and yellow engine cowlings. "Nine-O-Nine" has always been green, and "Aluminum Overcast" is silver with red. All 3 were coming here every spring for quite a few years in a row.......even "Aluminum Overcast" just prior to her "Did anyone remember to put the gear down?" landing.

Sorry for the miss-info.

redleash · November 9, 2011

Ah Tom---you know how these old birds tug at my heartstrings.

Thanks for sharing these great pics! I may hve to come over and check out the Fantasy of Flight.

I'm surprised about the Ike story too. The skies were too busy, and so was he back in England. Wish we could find a good source for that info.

Got any WWII books going?

Cheers,
Lauren

black mamba · November 9, 2011

redleash wrote: »

Ah Tom---you know how these old birds tug at my heartstrings. Thanks for sharing these great pics! I may hve to come over and check out the Fantasy of Flight.

I'm surprised about the Ike story too. The skies were too busy, and so was he back in England. Wish we could find a good source for that info.

Got any WWII books going?

Cheers,
Lauren

Hi Lauren,

I know you love this kind of stuff as much as I do. These shots were taken in Fernandina, a quaint town on the north end of Amelia Island....just north of Jacksonville.

That Fantasy of Flight attraction over near Orlando is just flat unbelievable. I try and get over there at least once a year and I've yet to see all the planes and stuff that Kermit Weeks has assembled. He has one of the most extensive plane restoration facilities in the world. It's mind-blowing. He staged a P-51 fly-in several years ago and about 80 of the things showed up....the largest gathering of P-51s ever for such an event. If you get anywhere near the place, you call me and I'll meet you there.

I'll fire a PM your way.

Tom

FlyNavy · November 9, 2011

Amazing pics! Thanks.

DaddyO · November 10, 2011

Hey Tom

For all the digging I could do concerning Ikes P 51 flight I could only find reference to his July 4, 1944
flight with Major General Elwood Quesada.

This inquiry and answer seems to address the question entirely and is the absolute best info I could find.

I'm done :deadhorse Promise I won't ask any more stupid questions <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/lol3.gif" border="0" alt="" >

Mr. Ross's e-mail regarding General Eisenhower overflying Normandy beaches
was referred to the Eisenhower Library.

</pre>

redleash · November 10, 2011

I'm glad to see that email. I couldn't find anything else on-line other than the 4 Jul 44 P-51 flight. Thanks, Daddy-O.

black mamba · November 10, 2011

DaddyO wrote: »

Hey Tom

For all the digging I could do concerning Ikes P 51 flight I could only find reference to his July 4, 1944
flight with Major General Elwood Quesada.

This inquiry and answer seems to address the question entirely and is the absolute best info I could find.

I'm done :deadhorse Promise I won't ask any more stupid questions

Well done, Michael. I don't know anyone I'd rather trust research to than you. I'm going to accept your findings as being gospel in this matter. I'm also going to point out to the boys at the Collins Foundation the discrepancy in their story.

Tom

black mamba · November 10, 2011

redleash wrote: »

I'm glad to see that email. I couldn't find anything else on-line other than the 4 Jul 44 P-51 flight. Thanks, Daddy-O.

I'm telling you....if you've got to ferret out the absolute facts, you put Michael on the job. The boy is real good at that.

Tom

redleash · November 10, 2011

One-Of-A-Kind Mustang P-51C ( and friends )

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