Biggin Hill-based FlyaSpitfire.com has recently acquired North American P-51D Mustang G-CMDK and plans to operate passenger flights in the two-seater during the 2022 ‘season’.
Delivered as 44-73877 to the USAAF in July 1945, it arrived too late to participate in World War Two, but later joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, with whom it flew as RCAF 9279 from 1951 until withdrawal in April 1958. The fighter then passed through the hands of several North American civil owners, before moving to Europe in 1986, becoming part of the Scandinavian Historic Flight. It has worn many different schemes in its long flying life and participated in the filming of the 1990 movie Memphis Belle.
In more recent years it has been based in the UK with Shawn Patrick as G-SHWN and flew for several years in a distinctive camo scheme with a shark mouth logo. In May 2020 it was repainted again, and now represents 44-13779, the mount of the USAAF 4th Fighter Group’s Col Don Blakeslee.
With thanks to Robin J Brooks
