Mustang Named February

Air Classics, Mar 2004 by O'Leary, Michael

NEW RESTORATION HONORS A WORLD WAR TWO USAAF ACE

This past September, we had the good fortune to fly with Chris Woods and his new Mustang - a P-51D named February. It was the day after the Reno Air Races and everybody was relaxing and doing some fun-flying. Chris had entered the newly-restored P-51D in the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trophy and was heading hack home to northern California.

The last time we had flown with Chris was several years ago and he was piloting his beautiful all-blue Supermarine Mk. XIV Spitfire SL721/N721WK. "Not long after, I made the decision to sell the Spitfire," states Chris, who is a filmmaker by profession. "It was not an easy decision - the airplane had been with my family since 1977-but I wanted to use the funds from the sale to purchase and complete a Mustang restora

The Spitfire was purchased by Michael Potter in Canada (see the February "Warbird Report") and has been refinished in the markings of No. 421 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force and is now registered C-GVZB. "I can't think of a better person to have the Spitfire," said Chris. "Michael Potter is a man that loves that aircraft."

And what of the Mustang restoration project? Well, as with most surviving Warbirds it has a long, interesting, and complex history.

North American Aviation P-51D-30-NA Mustang USAAF s/n 44-74391 was built at the company's Inglewood, California, facility and delivered to the Army Air Force on 23 May 1945. The Mustangs was part of the NAA factory charge number NA-122 for 800 -30-NA aircraft with serial numbers 44-74227 through 44-75026. With aircraft pouring from American factories, output was almost more than demand and '391 was flown from Inglewood by a ferry pilot to Newark, New Jersey, for storage with the 4003rd AAF Base Unit, Air Technical Command.

The Mustang's stay at Newark was fairly protracted and it was not until February 1947 that the plane was finally moved - this time going to the 4121st AAF Base Unit, Air Materiel Command, at Kelly AAFB in Texas. At this location, the aircraft was probably overhauled and upgraded.

In January 1948, the Mustang took up residence with the 113th Fighter Squadron, Indiana Air National Guard. Based at Stout Field, Indianapolis, at this time the designation was changed from P51 to F-51. As with many ANG Mustangs, the aircraft were often shuttled hetween States and units and '391 was no exception. In October 1950, the F-51 D headed southeast to join the 156th Fighter Squadron, North Carolina ANG at Douglas Municipal Airport in Charlotte.

However, its stay with the NC ANG was extremely short and in November it was assigned to the 123rd Fighter-Bomber Wing, Tactical Air Command, at Goodman AFB in Kentucky. This absorption back into regular USAF service was probably due to the start of the Korean War.

December 1951 saw another change of units and the F-51D flew to George AFB, California, to join the 146th Fighter-Bomber Wing, TAG. In January 1953, at the same location, the Mustang became assigned to the 21st FB Squadron, TAG. With these units, the Mustang was probably utilized for training.

With the wind-down of Mustang use in Korea, '391 was assigned in May 1953 to the 124th FB Squadron, California ANG which was also stationed at George.

August 1953 saw another change in assignment and the F-51D went to the 108th FB Squadron of the Illinois ANG stationed at O'Hare Airport in Chicago. In june 1955, the Mustang went to the 169th FB Squadron, IL ANG, based at Greater Peoria Airport.

By this time, even ANG use of the Mustang was really starting to wind down and in October 1956, the Mustang was flown to McClellan APR, Sacramento, California, for storage with the Sacramento Air Material Area.

The F-5 ID stayed in storage until April 1958 when it was dropped from the invcn^ tory by commercial sale to the Fwcrza Aerm GMaiemaitcca. Guatemala was the first Central American air arm to operate the Mustang. Interestingly, the North American fighter replaced such aircraft as the Boeing P-26A and Ryan STM-2. Over the years, the nation would acquire around 30 Mustangs from varying sources but by 1972 only six remained flyahle and these were put up for sale and purchased by Don Hull of Sugarland, Texas. Included in this group was '391 which had operated in Guatemala as FAG 351 - faithfully flying for 14 years. The Mustangs were flown north in full FAG camouflage but with national markings deleted.

Stored in a small hangar at Sugarland, the aircraft really made for quite an amazing sight. FAG 351, when it arrived in Sugarland, had accumulatcd 2524.5-hr of flying time. On 2 January 1973, the FAA issued the Mustang with an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate with the US civil registration of N38229 and this was followed by a Limited Airworthiness Certificate on 15 November.

Don Hull had always intended to sell the Mustangs and in February 1974 the entire lot was purchased by I lowarcl Development Co. of Big Springs, Texas, and the company consisted of well-known Warbird collector Wilson "Connie" Edwards and his brother Will P. Edwards, Jr. Another well-known Warhird operator, Don Plumb, was also a partner in the enterprise but sold his interests back to Connie and Will in March 1976. Unfortunately, Will was killed in the crash of TF51DFAG345/N38228and the surviving aircraft were put into long-term storage.