1945: April, joined 8th AF
1945: July, returned to Newark Field NJ, Olmstead AFB, Shaw AFB (20th FBW)
1948: 4126th BU San Bernardino CA, 188th FS NM ANG
1951: 188th FIS, 4750th UB Yuma AZ
1954: 165th FS KY ANG
1956: sent to McClellan AFB for reclamation (scrap)
1958: N5445V, William Kelbaugh, Chico CA, saved from scrap
1964: N5445V, Dreshman (Sherm) Cooper, Merced CA
1974: N5445V, James Francis, Medina OH
1980: N51DF, James Francis
1982: N5445V, Jack Rose, Spangle WA, restoration to stock WWII "Worry Bird"
1986: N5445V, Sep 9, landing damage, Reno NV
1988: N751JC, C&C Vintage Aircraft, Rockford IL
1988: N5445V, John Castrogiovanni, Rockford IL
198?: N5445V, Victor Haluska / Santa Monica Propeller
1990: Mar 27, N951M, Michael George, Springfield IL
2007: Sep 26, N951M, Gathering of Mustangs and Legends
2022: Dec 30, N951M, Michael George, Springfield IL
The Last of the Wild Horses
P-51 Survivors book featuring images from Dick Phillips and John Dienst, with Mark Phillips.
To order, goto The Last of the Wild Horses. You can order online.
Price is $100 for pages and pages of P-51 Survivor history and photos. Over 2,500 photos!
The late Dick Phillips shared hundreds of his P-51 images with us at MustangsMustangs over the last 25 years. If you can, help support his life-long passion. I recently ordered my copy.
Thank you!
Curtis Fowles, MustangsMustangs