P-51 MUSTANG/42-103645
Serial #: 42-103645
Construction #: 103-26199
Civil Registration:
N9288
N215CA
NL61429
Construction #: 103-26199
Civil Registration:
N9288
N215CA
NL61429
History:
Montana State College, Bozeman, MT, October 3, 1945-1960.
- Instructional Airframe.
VFW Post, MT, 1965.
- Displayed.
Confederate Air Force, Mercedes, TX, 1965-1973.
- Trucked to Texas from Montana.
- Stored.
- Suffered salt water corrosion damage by Hurrican.
Confederate Air Force, Omaha, NE, 1973-1985.
- Registered as N9288.
- Restoration started.
CAF/Commemorative Air Force, St. Paul, MN, 1985-2006.
- Registered as N215CA.
- Registered as NL61429, April 26, 2001.
- Restoration Completed by Tri-State Aviation, Wahpeton, ND.
- First flight May 10, 2001.
- Money for restoration was donated by Tuskegee Airmen and the aircraft has been finish in thier basic color scheme.
- Flew as USAAF/A4-2/Tuskegee Airmen/By ReQuest.
- Destroyed by forced landing in trees after suffering catastrophic engine failure,
near Bay City Wisconsin, May 29, 2004.
-- Pilot Don Hinz fatally injured, Don Hinz Memorial.
- Under restoration to airworthy by the Red Tail Project
Montana State College, Bozeman, MT, October 3, 1945-1960.
- Instructional Airframe.
VFW Post, MT, 1965.
- Displayed.
Confederate Air Force, Mercedes, TX, 1965-1973.
- Trucked to Texas from Montana.
- Stored.
- Suffered salt water corrosion damage by Hurrican.
Confederate Air Force, Omaha, NE, 1973-1985.
- Registered as N9288.
- Restoration started.
CAF/Commemorative Air Force, St. Paul, MN, 1985-2006.
- Registered as N215CA.
- Registered as NL61429, April 26, 2001.
- Restoration Completed by Tri-State Aviation, Wahpeton, ND.
- First flight May 10, 2001.
- Money for restoration was donated by Tuskegee Airmen and the aircraft has been finish in thier basic color scheme.
- Flew as USAAF/A4-2/Tuskegee Airmen/By ReQuest.
- Destroyed by forced landing in trees after suffering catastrophic engine failure,
near Bay City Wisconsin, May 29, 2004.
-- Pilot Don Hinz fatally injured, Don Hinz Memorial.
- Under restoration to airworthy by the Red Tail Project
Source(s):
Chapman, John & Goodall, Geoff, Edited by Paul Coggan - Warbirds Directory,Warbirds Worldwide Ltd., Mansfield, England, 1989.
Goodall, Geoff - Warbirds Directory-4th Edition, 2003.
CAF - Red Tail Project
Chapman, John & Goodall, Geoff, Edited by Paul Coggan - Warbirds Directory,Warbirds Worldwide Ltd., Mansfield, England, 1989.
Goodall, Geoff - Warbirds Directory-4th Edition, 2003.
CAF - Red Tail Project
Photo Source(s):
Chuck Gardner, www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org, 2003
Dick Philips/Warbird Images
Jim Buckel
Research Assistance:
Pat Carry
Chuck Gardner, www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org, 2003
Dick Philips/Warbird Images
Jim Buckel
Research Assistance:
Pat Carry