NORTH AMERICAN P-51D MUSTANG
FLYING LEGENDS
FACTS ABOUT FRANCES DELL
History & Specifications
History
North American P-51D Mustang „Frances Dell“
The history of the P-51D Mustang „Frances Dell“ began in 1944 when it was manufactured at the North American Aviation (NAA) factory in Inglewood, California. Initially, it was stored by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and remained unused until 1950. It was not until November 8, 1950, that the aircraft was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where it was given the military designation 9597.
After completing its military service in 1959, the aircraft was registered as a civilian plane in 1960, initially under the registration N9150R and later as N1335. On March 17, 1963, the P-51 crashed near Indianapolis. In 1970, the FAA revoked its registration due to a „lack of activity reports.“ Bill Destefani acquired the project in 1981 and began the Mustang’s restoration that same year. After years of restoration, the aircraft was assigned the civilian registration C-GJCJ in 1987. In 1989, the Mustang found a new owner when it was operated under the name „Glamorous Gal“ by James Priebe.
On October 15, 2011, the aircraft was damaged during a landing when the right landing gear collapsed while rolling out, causing significant damage to the landing gear, the right wing, the propeller, and the engine. In 2012, the aircraft’s repairs began after it was sold to Carl Patrick and CP Air LLC in Broomfield, Colorado. There, the P-51D was named „Frances Dell“ and subsequently restored by Midwest Aero.
The P-51D was painted in the checkerboard pattern of the 84th Fighter Squadron and modeled after the aircraft flown by Lt. Clark Clemons. During World War II, the 84th Fighter Squadron was stationed at the historic Duxford airfield, conducting missions across Europe.
After the restoration was completed, the Mustang took to the skies again for the first time under the name „Frances Dell“ on October 30, 2014. In July 2019, it received the award for the „Best Restored P-51 Mustang“ at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, demonstrating its exceptional restoration and high quality.
In March 2020, „Frances Dell“ was ultimately acquired by Flying Legends GmbH, where it continues to be showcased under this name.
History
- 1944: Manufactured NAA Plant Inglewood / CA. No War activity. Stored by USAAF until 1950
- 1950, November 8: BOC, RCAF 9597
- 1959, October 15: SOC
- 1959, May 20: Sale, Trans Florida Aviation, Sarasota FL
- 1960, January 6: N9150R, reg, Trans Florida Aviation, Sarasota FL
- 1960, July 29: N9150R, sale, E.D. Weiner, Los Angeles CA
- 1960, December 1: N1335, reg, E.D. Weiner, Los Angeles CA
- 1961, October 18: N1335, sale, Margaret/Frank Woodside, Lubbock TX
- 1962, March 12: N1335, sale, Aero Enterprises, Elkhart IN
- 1963, February 25: N1335, sale, John Barker, Indianapolis IN
- 1963, March 17: N1335, crashed, Indianapolis IN
- 1970, November 30: N1335, revoked, registration revoked for not filing activity report
- 1981: Bill Destefani, Bakersfield CA, wreck – rebuild started
- 1987: C-GJCJ (#2), Jerry Janes, Vancouver BC
- 1989: N151JP, sale, James Priebe, Findlay OH, „Glamorous Gal“
- 1993: N251HR, sale, Howard Ross, Chicago IL
- 2002, January: N251HR, sale, Robert Baranaskas, Northpoint NY
- 2011, October 15: N251HR, damaged, right landing gear collapsed on roll out. Damage to the right gear, right wing, prop, engine
- 2012, July 11: N51ZW, sale, Carl Patrick / CP Air LLC, Broomfield CO, Restoration at Midwest Aero as „Frances Dell“
- 2014, October 30: N51ZW, First flight with Midwest Aero Restaurations
- 2019, July: Award as best P-51 in Oshkosh – EAA- Airventure
- 2020, March: N51ZW, sold, Georg Raab, Germany
SPECIFICATIONS
Lt. Clark Clemons, 78th Fighter Group (1945)
Original pilot wings Lt. Clark Clemons
