SLYBIRD

Flight Journal, Apr 2005 by Busha, James P

WHEN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF North American Aviation delivered P-51 Mustang number 12231910 to the United States Army Air Force in January 1945, its only significant feature was its military serial number 44-72364. Other than that, it was just a standard, runof-the-mill, advanced propeller fighter plane. The craftsmen who worked on it in 1944 probably never thought that it would still fly some 60 years later. No one realized that this Mustang would fly and protect various countries long after WW Il had ended.

On January 26, 1945, this P-51D Mustang was delivered to the United States Army Air Force and eventually assigned to the 353rd FG based in Raydon, England. The 353rd originally fought the Luftwaffe's Fw 190s and Bf 109s with P-47 Thunderbolts above occupied Europe. In time, as more and more Mustangs were produced, they began to filter into groups and squadrons as they replaced the aging, but reliable, P-47Jug. Nothing could replace its hard-hitting, ground-strafing capabilities, but in the air, especially in a swirling dogfight, the Mustang reigned.

Like the rest of the Mustangs in the 353rd FG, 44-72364 was given its checkered, yellow-and-black nose art; then it was assigned to the 352nd FS. The fuselage code "SX-L" was applied to its side along with the appropriate nose art. Because the group's call sign was "Slybird," a very fitting name of Upupa Epopswas painted in a mix of yellow letters on its nose. It's is the scientific nomenclature for the noisy, smelly bird that has untidy nesting habits and unusually weak flight characteristics: the hoopoe. The Mustang was everything the hoopoe wasn't.

In the fall of 1944, Hitler unleashed his wonder weapons on the Allies. They included the Me 262 jets that would hit and run bomber formations at will. Their tactics were to lure Allied fighter escorts into dogfights, hoping that the Mustangs would strip their drop tanks and leave the bombers behind. Once this had been accomplished, the remaining jets would maul the bomber formation and spread cannon and machine-gun fire throughout the bomber "boxes." Unfortunately for one 262, this tactic did not work.

On March 31, 1945, Upupa Epops was on a bomber escort mission high above Germany when it encountered a pair of 262s. Although the jets were faster than the P-51, Upupa Epops had an altitude advantage when it pounced. One 262 was hit by .50-caliber machine-gun fire from the P-51's six Brownings. After a short chase, its 262 pilot bailed out, and the jet spun in and crashed. Upupa Epops added another victory over the Luftwaffe to its score when it downed a Bf 109 on April 7, 1945.

As the War drew to a close and the surrender of Germany was imminent, many P-51s were stationed with the occupation forces in Europe. Because the planes had such low time and were relatively new, they stayed behind to help protect the rebuilding. In 1947, Upupa Epops was sold to the Swedish Air Force and given the serial number "FvNr 260061." It flew with the Swedes until October 30, 1952, when it was sold to the Dominica Air Force.

As the United States entered the jet age and the original workers at North American Aviation began to retire, this P-51 soldiered on in green pseudo-camouflage in defense of the tiny island of Dominica. It lasted in frontline combat for far longer than anyone could have imagined. In May 1984, after almost 40 years of gallant service for several countries across the world, the old Mustang was brought home. After changing hands a few more times, it was bought by the Flying Heritage Collection of Arlington, Washington, and its transformation and rebirth to how it looked when it left the factory in 1945 was begun.

The Flying Heritage Collection's mission is very simple: to acquire and restore historic aircraft to the highest standards of craftsmanship and engineering and return them to a like-new condition. It's a tribute to the difficult years of WW II and the Cold War.

Neither resources nor effort have been spared to make this P-51 the most authentic example of its kind. The Flying Heritage Collection has rolled back the clock and has created a remarkably unique opportunity for the people of this planet. Not only can we see the painstaking research and re-creation of details that set this P-51 Mustang apart from all others, but we can also see it fly and step back in time.

When an original, Packard-built Rolls Royce Merlin engine (V-12 V-1650-7) roars noisily to life, it puts us in a time warp as the P-51 screams down the runway. We almost believe that we're watching this Mustang prepare for a combat mission over Germany. The Flying Heritage Collection has made Upupa Fpopsthe jewel of its collection and has created a place where it will be forever preserved for future generations. A Slybird has truly come to rest in a "field of dreams."

For additional information about the Flying Heritage Collection or for more information regarding the collection's guided tours, please visit www.flyingheritage.com, or call (360)435-2172.