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The North American P-51 Mustang
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P-51 Who?   Case # 4
44-74910     N51SJ     Closed
Solved by: Ed Grabel, Bill Hane
P-51 Who 4
Case#: 4
Date: Jun 01 1998
By: Curtis Fowles
Photo: Gathering of Warbirds, mid 80's
Status: Closed
Serial: 44-74910
Registry: N51SJ
P-51 Who? Viewer Responses
Unknown
06/07/1998 12:00
Ho Hun when it was coded JT J in the early 80s. At the time of this picture, it did not have the name on this side. N151X, serial number 44-11628. Later coded CY H and has a black prop. On display at Champlin Fighter Museum, Mesa AZ.
MustangsMustangs
06/30/1998 12:00
Not so fast! New info from Ho! Hun owner Bill Hane states that Ho! Hun never had a paddle blade prop. Looking closer at this picture and another picture of Ho! Hun front view clearly show differences in the paint, prop, empenages and breathers. Now all of these things could still be the same P-51 over years of changes. But I have a poor slide of Ho! Hun when it was coded JT J in front of another 55th FG paint P-51 that I believe is coded JA J but cannot be sure. It was taken at Madera in 1983.

I believe that this photo is of 44-74910, N51SJ owned by Stephen Johnson at the time. It is now at Yanks Air Museum in Chino named "Miss Judy" and coded JA J.

Now, Case Closed!
Ken Moe
03/05/2014 11:23
Hi,
Is it still possible to go for a ride in Ho Hun?
Ken
262-781-3173
Duff Bevill
05/17/2022 22:31
Bill Hane was a great guy! I got a ride with him outside of the Chapman Air Museum near Mesa Az. in the
mid/late 90's (?)
I didn't pay for the ride but instead donated to the "Ho Hun foundation" ! I have my certificate somewhere - "if you hear the V-12 over head you promise to look up and say, "look there goes a Mustang!".

Bill was wonderful guy. He strapped me in and said, "oh, by the way, if you smell gasoline don't worry". He was right. When he started the engine, it loped and loped and I smelled gasoline like someone had poured it on my lap and I realized that I was strapped into a piston aircraft version of a 1940's '32 Ford flat head hot rod with a full race cam belching raw fuel from the exhaust while idling at the starting line of a southern California drag strip, and I didn't worry. He shared with me two vertical stalls, the second of which put us in a vertical dive ending in a desert canyon at 1900 RPM's banking left and right chasing /racing through the river bed. I actually looked over my shoulder to see if a German ME 109 was on our tail!
An unforgettable experience! A great guy!!!
Bryan Wanek
01/19/2023 13:43
My uncle got a ride in this P51 back in the 80's at Rochester, MN airport shortly before he died of a massive heart attack at age 39. I recently ran across the photos I took and it got me looking for Ho Hun on the web. You couldn't have slapped the smile off his face with a brick! I have had a dream in the back of my head, ever since, to get a ride in it someday. I remember the pilot/owner was very gracious and I am grateful my uncle got that once in a lifetime experience! If anyone knows how I could possibly get a ride in Ho Hun someday please send me a note, Bryan 507-251 two two two eight.
Case Closed!
P-51 Mustang

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