General History

In 1939, the British Purchasing Agency came to America to buy aircraft for the war that had just started in Europe.  Having experience with Curtiss P-40’s (of Flying Tiger fame) they purchased all that Curtiss could build them.  When they approached North American Aviation to build P-40’s for them, the company was not too excited about building a competitors aircraft but offered that they could build a new fighter using the same American-built Allison engine.  The British agreed, but on the condition that the aircraft had to be flying in no more than 120 days.  117 days later, the first P-51 flew.

Named the Mustang by the British, the P-51A was a great low altitude airplane but could not compete at altitude with the Spitfires powered by the British Rolls Royce Merlin engine.  With a more sophisticated supercharger, the Merlin could maintain its rated power to a much higher altitude than the Allison.  Merlin powered Mustangs were tested, and a great fighter was born.  The first Merlin powered Mustangs were designated P-51 B’s and C’s, the only difference being that the B’s were built in Long Beach, California and the C’s in Dallas, Texas. 

With the Mustangs ability to carry large, external fuel tanks, and the Merlin’s good fuel economy the air war in Europe began to take on a different look.  With over 450 gallons of fuel, the Mustangs now had a range of over 2,000 miles, and had the capability to escort the bombers on their entire long-range missions.  Deadly, fast, high-flying and fuel-efficient, the Mustang became known as the plane that defeated the Luftwaffe in World War II.

Personal History

While the government originally paid almost $40,000 for a P-51, they could be bought for less than $5,000 when they were sold surplus after the war.  This aircraft was one of two P-51C’s purchased by famous movie-pilot, Paul Mantz.  The famous Bendix Transcontinental Race had been postponed for 7 years because of the war.  When it began back up again, Mantz modified both P-51’s to enter.  He modified the wings to hold an additional 406 gallons of fuel.  This additional fuel, combined with the Mustangs normal 269 gallons, allowed the aircraft to make the trip non-stop without the drag of having to use external fuel tanks.  In this aircraft, Mantz won the Bendix race in 1948.  His other P-51C won the race in 1946 and 1947 and was later purchased and flown over the North Pole by Charlie Blair.  Charlie later sold his aircraft to the National Air and Space Museum.  Kermit acquired this aircraft when he purchased the Tallmantz Collection in 1985.  There are only 4 original P-51B/C aircraft left in the world.

This aircraft sat for many years and had not flown since 1954 when Kermit sent the wing up to Cal Pacific Airmotive in Salinas, California.  Art Teeters, his son Dave and crew specialize in P-51 restorations.  Because of the sealant Mantz used in the wing, there was serious corrosion and much of the wing was made new.  A decision was made early on to restore the aircraft back to a military configuration.  This would be a big job as Mantz had extensively modified the wing.  All of the military equipment was discarded and covered over.  Meticulously restored, it is without a doubt the nicest and rarest P-51 Mustang in the world today.  It received the prestigious “Grand Champion” Warbird Award at the 2000 AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

This aircraft was painted in the red tail colors of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first Black Americans to fly combat in World War II.  The Tuskegee pilots had to not only endure the rigors of training and combat, but the hardships of prejudice and racism of the time.  In the last days of the war, they were requested by bomber crews for escorts as their reputation for protecting the bombers grew.  Tuskegee pilots stood out for being the only group to never have lost a bomber to enemy aircraft.  This particular paint scheme is that of Lt. Col. Lee “Buddy” Archer.  He became the only Tuskegee pilot to shoot down 5 enemy aircraft.  Lee, who is still alive and well, came out to Salinas to watch the initial test flights and finished off the successful restoration by signing his name to the armor plate behind the pilots seat. 

Because of Kermit’s effort in promoting the Tuskegee story and honoring them, the Tuskegee Pilots Association returned the honor by nationally voting Kermit in as an Honorary Tuskegee Airman at their National Convention in 2002.

Kermit Comment

This aircraft was built in Dallas.  On May 1, 1944 the Army Air Service took delivery of this aircraft at Lakeland, Florida, just down the road from Fantasy of Flight.