1966: N7099V, Pioneer Aero, Burbank CA
1969: N9LR, Larry Strimple, Mansfield OH
1974: N55JL, Jimmy Leeward, Ocala FL
Numerous names and paint schemes. Jimmy Leeward likes to show up at shows each year with a different mustang.
Mostly "Cloud Dancer" #9, but you never know.
#9 seems to be the only thing that does not change much.
1994: Phoenix 500 - #8 "Estrellia One" Leeward Air Ranch
1996: South Korean AF Paint
2001: Oct. firewall forward restoration began by Dan Martin in Hollister, CA
2005: wins Bronze by passing P-51A Polar Bear after playing with him most of the race.
2006: installed the old cut-down race canopy and a race Merlin. Came back just before the start of the Gold race with a cracked header tank which means coolant is streaming out and you have to land very soon or burn up your Merlin.
2010: Feb 13, reg, N55JL, Aero-Trans Corp DBA, Ocala FL
2010: Jun 8, N55JL, Phil Petrik, Sidney Montana
2010: SOLD! (oh no) Jimmy Leeward has owned this bird for many, many years.
New owner Phil Petrik was flying Cloud Dancer at 14k from Texas to Montana when the Merlin blew a hole in the case! He dead-sticked into Curtis, Nebraska which was fortunately close by with no damage. Nice work by Petrick. The engine was purchased as is from Duane Doyle in California. When hearing about what happened, Doyle refunded the price of the engine when not obligated to do so. Wish there was more people like that around.
2014: Sep 16, reg, Blood Brothers Aero LLC, Sidney MT
2017: Mar, new paint, 352nd FG "Blood Brother"
2020: Mar 16, N55JL, sale, Gary Peters, Clarkston WA
2020: Jun, repainted, "Patty Ann II" 352nd FG
2021: Oct 23, N55JL, Gary Peters, Clarkston WA
2024: Feb 06, N55JL, active/flying
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