fsxar177
July 9th, 2012, 21:37
"MAGIC TOWN" & "EL NEGRITO"
for the Warbirdsim "Little Friends" P-51D
P-51D-10-NA, 44-14377, NX33699. Race #90, "Magic Town", first served with the 302nd Base Unit, 3rd AF. Between service, and 12/1946, Mexican aviator Abelardo L. Rodriguez Jr., acquired the Mustang, and set a new air speed record, between Mexico City, and Los Angeles, California, completing in 4:23, and at an average speed of 356mph!
Thomas Call purchased the aircraft, and hired Joe DeBona to fly the racer in the 1947 Bendix cross-country race, between Van Nuys, California, and Cleveland Ohio. Debona finished 2nd, at a staggering 458mph! The airframe was extremely clean, and shone in high-gloss.
"Magic Town" is derived from the 1947 comedy, starring James Stewart. It is rumored that steward shared interest in the aircraft, and possibly flew the mustang at some time.
NX33699 Was purchased by the Dominican Republic in 9/48, and given the s/n 1702. The following information was written by John L. Dienst.
"After placing second in the 1947 Bendix Trophy Race as "Magic Town", N33699 was retired from air racing. Soon thereafter, the airplane became one of six Mustangs acquired by the government of the Dominican Republic with the approval of the U.S. Foreign Economic Administration (FEA). Subsequently, on 27 May 1948, the Export License A-3625 was issued to authorize the aircraft's ferry flight from Miami, Florida through the U. S. Naval Air Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the island of Hispanola, by a pilot under contract to the Riddle Company of Miami, Florida. After the airplane's arrival in the Dominican Republic, it became #405 with the Cuerpo de Aviacion Militar Dominicana (AMD). Since it sported a long distance fuel system and was equipped with a Bendix Radio Compass, AMD #405 was flown by Brazilian mercenary pilots, under orders of the Dominican government, on reconnaissance flights against bases belonging to the rebels of the Cayo Confites Expedition located in Cuba and Venezuela. It is interesting to note that #405 was affectionately called "El Negrito" by members of the AMD. Also, please note that a photograph published in the “Revista Militar” magazine, as well as an image found in the Brazilian magazine, “Forca Aerea” documents the fact that in mid-1949, the P-51D AMD #405, along with two AMD P-51C Mustangs, intercepted a USAF B-17 that was en route to Puerto Rico. Other photographic evidence, illustrates the fact that the P-51D 44-14377 maintained its all black civilian paint scheme during its entire service with the air force of the Dominican Republic. Please note that by the end of 1950, the aircraft’s long distance fuel system had been discarded in favor of an armament package consisting of FOUR instead of six 0.5-in. Browning MG 53-2 machine guns. On 8 June 1951, the airplane suffered damage during gun practice while being piloted by 2LT Miguel Luna Perez, but, was repaired. On 16 September 1952, FAD #1703 was damaged while being piloted by 1LT Dario N. Melendez Jimenez and was subsequently repaired. In 1954 the airplane was officially withdrawn from use due to fatigue and spares starvation."
Note: Conflicting reports say that #1702 crashed in April of 1950.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/MTposter.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/Magictown2.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/MagicTown1.jpg
for the Warbirdsim "Little Friends" P-51D
P-51D-10-NA, 44-14377, NX33699. Race #90, "Magic Town", first served with the 302nd Base Unit, 3rd AF. Between service, and 12/1946, Mexican aviator Abelardo L. Rodriguez Jr., acquired the Mustang, and set a new air speed record, between Mexico City, and Los Angeles, California, completing in 4:23, and at an average speed of 356mph!
Thomas Call purchased the aircraft, and hired Joe DeBona to fly the racer in the 1947 Bendix cross-country race, between Van Nuys, California, and Cleveland Ohio. Debona finished 2nd, at a staggering 458mph! The airframe was extremely clean, and shone in high-gloss.
"Magic Town" is derived from the 1947 comedy, starring James Stewart. It is rumored that steward shared interest in the aircraft, and possibly flew the mustang at some time.
NX33699 Was purchased by the Dominican Republic in 9/48, and given the s/n 1702. The following information was written by John L. Dienst.
"After placing second in the 1947 Bendix Trophy Race as "Magic Town", N33699 was retired from air racing. Soon thereafter, the airplane became one of six Mustangs acquired by the government of the Dominican Republic with the approval of the U.S. Foreign Economic Administration (FEA). Subsequently, on 27 May 1948, the Export License A-3625 was issued to authorize the aircraft's ferry flight from Miami, Florida through the U. S. Naval Air Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the island of Hispanola, by a pilot under contract to the Riddle Company of Miami, Florida. After the airplane's arrival in the Dominican Republic, it became #405 with the Cuerpo de Aviacion Militar Dominicana (AMD). Since it sported a long distance fuel system and was equipped with a Bendix Radio Compass, AMD #405 was flown by Brazilian mercenary pilots, under orders of the Dominican government, on reconnaissance flights against bases belonging to the rebels of the Cayo Confites Expedition located in Cuba and Venezuela. It is interesting to note that #405 was affectionately called "El Negrito" by members of the AMD. Also, please note that a photograph published in the “Revista Militar” magazine, as well as an image found in the Brazilian magazine, “Forca Aerea” documents the fact that in mid-1949, the P-51D AMD #405, along with two AMD P-51C Mustangs, intercepted a USAF B-17 that was en route to Puerto Rico. Other photographic evidence, illustrates the fact that the P-51D 44-14377 maintained its all black civilian paint scheme during its entire service with the air force of the Dominican Republic. Please note that by the end of 1950, the aircraft’s long distance fuel system had been discarded in favor of an armament package consisting of FOUR instead of six 0.5-in. Browning MG 53-2 machine guns. On 8 June 1951, the airplane suffered damage during gun practice while being piloted by 2LT Miguel Luna Perez, but, was repaired. On 16 September 1952, FAD #1703 was damaged while being piloted by 1LT Dario N. Melendez Jimenez and was subsequently repaired. In 1954 the airplane was officially withdrawn from use due to fatigue and spares starvation."
Note: Conflicting reports say that #1702 crashed in April of 1950.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/MTposter.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/Magictown2.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb331/fsxar177/MagicTown1.jpg