Duxford Thursday 27th June:
The weather may have been dull, but there were plenty of round engines to entertain us today.
The Catalina had another busy training day, ‘Sally B’ left for Saint Nazaire and a weekend in France, and T-28 G-TROY had an airtest:
Resistance is futile:
Duxford Tuesday 25th June:
Harvard G-BUKY was busy in the Duxford circuit today:
The F-86A Sabre was airborne for a photocall, and gave a superb display on return:
A late afternoon sortie from Nord 1002 G-ATBG:
Two interesting visitors, Luscombe G-AJKB and Yak 50 F-AZXK:
The roll-out of ‘Ferocious Frankie’ for engine runs this morning is a great excuse for another in-depth look at a Duxford resident.
It has been difficult to research the early days of P-51D G-BTCD. There are some contradictions and missing dates, any further information would be welcome. The first part is based on the TFC ‘Fighter Log’ No2 of 1990.
North American P-51D-25NA 122-39608 was accepted by the USAAF at the North American Aviation Factory, Inglewood, California under contract no AC2378 on 27 February 1945 and assigned serial No 44-73149. Within a month, it had been shipped via Newark, New Jersey to Liverpool and delivered to the 8th Air Force. No records exist of any unit allocation.
In January 1946 it was shipped back to the USA for storage at Newark, where it remained for a year before being transferred to the 4112th Base Unit at Olmsted, Pennsylvania for update and overhaul. Reassigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force on April 18th 1947, it was taken on strength as RCAF 9568 and became a Mustang TF.IV. The aircraft was used by the Defence Research Establishment based at Suffield, Alberta, assigned to Training Command. Six years later, with 433 hours total time since manufacture, reconditioning and total overhaul were carried out at McDonald Brothers Aircraft, Winnipeg, Manitoba, when a zero time engine and propeller were fitted. The aircraft then flew a further 81 hours and 40 minutes before being placed in long-term storage at Carberry, Manitoba on 4 January 1954.
When sold by Crown Assets Corporation in February 1957, the aircraft was acquired by James Defuma and Fred Ritts (As Intercontinental Airways of Canastota NY) and registered as N6340T. It remained in storage at Carberry, passing into the ownership of Aero Enterprises Inc of Elkhart, Indiana in 1960. It departed by road to Elkhart in June 1962. In 1962 it was mortgaged against a loan of $3,950. Later that same year it was sold to Dr Ernest M Beehler of West Covina, California for $5,400. Aerosport Chino were tasked to carry out necessary work on the aircraft and obtained a Limited Category airworthiness certificate with the rear fuel cell removed. At this time, total airframe hours were listed as 511, with 86 hours on the engine. A wheels-up landing took place at Lexington Minnesota on 16-4-65, repairs followed. Ownership remained unchanged then for ten years.
Charles and Patricia Beck and Edward Modes, all California residents, purchased the aircraft in 1972, selling within the state to Dr James McFarlane in 1974.
This photo at Chino circa 1974 from Tony Clarke Collection:
N6340T at Chino April 1974 (Dick Phillips photo via Tony Clarke):
In September 1974, Jim Modes flew N6340T as ‘Candyman’ Race No 7 at Reno.In an Unlimited Medallion event (the consolation race) he finished third at an average speed of 384mph, while still a stock aircraft. Jim Modes was a Reno T-6 veteran, and raced Candyman again in 1975.
‘Candyman’ at Reno September 1975 (Tony Clarke Collection):
The aircraft was acquired by Stephen Grey for The Fighter Collection in April 1980 from Dr McFarlane. It was flown via the UK to Switzerland (reported Reykjavik-Geneva 30-8-80 but also reported at Gatwick 30-8-80)
N6340T was painted at Heathrow as 463221 ‘G4-S’ ‘Moose / Candyman’ in 1981. The original ‘Moose’ was the mount of Lt Myron A Becraft of the 357th FG.
These two photos show the Mustang at Heathrow 1-5-81 (the day before departure). The Boss himself can be seen in pic 2. Many thanks to Trevor Davies for the scans of his slides:
‘Candyman’ departed to Biggin Hill 2-5-81, where the first UK airshow appearance was at the Air Fair 16th/17th May, flown by Ray Hanna.
This pic by Tony Clarke 16-5-81 appears to show Ray Hanna in the cockpit before his first display:
N6340T began her residence at Duxford around April 1984, the date of this photo by Tony Clarke:
Re-registered N51JJ on 6 May 1986 to John Crocker, CA, but remained with The Fighter Collection at Duxford.
Took part in the filming of ‘Empire Of The Sun’ as ‘583’ ‘My Dallas Darlin’ in 1987.
Seen here leaving Luton untitled after repaint on 16-5-87 (Tony Clarke pic):
Still in film markings at Duxford August 1987 (Tony Clarke pic):
Back as ‘Moose’ at Duxford October 1987 (Tony Clarke pic):
Took part in filming ‘Memphis Belle’ as 463221 ‘AJ-S’ Moose / Candyman, 1989 (My pics 3-7-89):
An extensive rebuild followed the ‘Memphis Belle’ filming, seen here by Tony Clarke 11-89:
Damage from a landing accident at Stapleford 9-8-90 was quickly repaired (seen here Duxford September 1990 with the rudder from N51PR/Princess Elizabeth by TC):
The Mustang was registered as G-BTCD 11-1-91.
In 1999, it was sold to OFMC (Official Change of ownership delayed to 18-8-99)
Repainted in 1999 by Vintage Fabrics as 463221 ‘E2-Z’ for OFMC / Breitling Team.
Seen here at Duxford 13-5-99:
Repainted at Turweston as 413704 B7-H ‘Ferocious Frankie’ (Lt Col Wallace E Hopkins 361st FG)
Returned Duxford 4-4-02.
Total hours 1788 at 31-12-11
Many thanks as usual to Tony Clarke for use of his archive!
Duxford Monday 24th June:
Passing by this morning was the North Weald based Skyraider, on maybe her first flight this year (?)
The TFC Bearcat was also off the ground:
Great news for Mustang fans, as today saw the first engine runs by Ferocious Frankie with her new powerplant. The post-war Merlin 724 has been replaced by a Packard V-1650 rebuilt by Maurice Hammond’s Eye Tech Engineering. No doubt there will be further testing, but hopefully she’ll be airborne again soon.
Good stuff. I had hoped to fly in but the grandkids arrived. Any more photographs of the visiting stuff please?
Spending a couple of hours at North Weald on Sunday morning was the Dutch based B-25 PH-XXV on the way home from Manston. The arrival was spectacular, the departure more so. Pity about the banana!
Duxford Friday 21st June:
Nearly 3 hours on patrol this morning, and nothing at all to report. Hopefully there will be more happening soon, but the days are getting shorter now as we approach Winter. So here are a few shots from June of 1988, all scanned from slides taken by Andy Robinson.
DUXFORD 25 YEARS AGO (Part 6):
Spitfire LF.XVIe TB863 / G-CDAN seen approaching completion with TFC 4-6-88:
Nord 1002 G-ATBG was owned by Lindsey Walton for more than 30 years, and is once again Duxford based. Seen here 4-6-88:
Seen 12-6-88 arriving for a brief stay with TFC, EKW C3605 C-483 became N360BP and is now with Planes Of Fame at Chino:
Yak C11 533 was also passing through (12-6-88):
An imported PT-17, N53127, also 12-6-88:
Auster AOP.9 G-AXRR / XR241 of Graham Warner/ARCo/British Aerial Museum on 26-6-88:
Duxford Tuesday 18th June:
Today’s entertainment came from a sortie by Nieuport replica G-BWMJ / N1977:
The ARCo Harvard departed:
The HAC Nimrod II was engine running, and sounding very sweet:
Also engine running was OFMC Spitfire MH434:
The TFC Sea Fury ready for the new prop:
Duxford Monday 17th June (Part 2):
Another milestone for TFC, with the Wildcat’s return to the air. Such a distinctive shape (and sound) will be a welcome addition to the Duxford line-up.
Congratulations to one and all.
Duxford Monday 17th June (Part 1):
TFC made all the noise today.
The Gladiator, humming like a sewing machine:
The Wildcat, sounding like a mix of pile-driver and a bucket of spanners:
The Mustang, sounding like a Mustang, real HORSE power:
Silent today were others from the TFC fleet:
June Flying Day (Part 2):
The WWI quartet put on a lively display in the sunshine:
More of the Shuttleworth regulars:
Visiting Czech built glider, a LETOV LF-107 Lunak:
A few passes from the BBMF Spitfire PS915 opened the show:
This Lazer 230 was just passing through:
Crew ferry Pitts:
A high energy display from Mark Jefferies:
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