Model: P-51K
Production: 1,500
Length: 32.25
Height: 13.67
Wingspan: 37.04
Weight - empty: 7,635lbs
Weight - normal T.O.: 10,100lbs
Weight - max G.W.: 12,100lbs
Powerplant: Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-7 Merlin
Horsepower: 1,490
Propeller: Aeroproducts: 11'0" 4-blade (K)
Max Speed: 437 at 25k
Service Ceiling: 41,780 feet
Fuel Capacity: 269 gal
Drop Tanks: 2 x 75 or 2 x 108
Range: 1,180 nm and 1,900 nm w/DT
Armament: 6 x .50 cal. - 1880 rounds
2 x 1,000 lb bombs or rockets

44-12852: A HISTORY ![##Heading 2]
This P-51 was constructed as an F-6K-15NT variant, which was a photo reconnaissance version of the P-51K. Delivered sometime in 1944 to the United States Army Air Force, it was one of only 43 built. While it most likely saw combat before the end of WWII, there aren’t a lot of records to tell its wartime story. Thankfully, in the many turns its career took, we were able to glean some of its fascinating history.

After World War II, the U.S. military had a large supply of surplus aircraft and it became too expensive to store and maintain them all. Many warplanes were stripped of ordinance and interior items before scrapping and smelting. For example, 5,483 aircraft - a mix of recon aircraft, fighters, and bombers were processed and disposed of at Kingman Army Air Field in Kingman, AZ. Depots such as Kingman were established all over the country specifically for this purpose.

1946 CLEVELAND AIR RACES
National Air Races 1946 P-51 Mustang

The 1946 National Air Races, held in Cleveland, OH, were destined to be an exciting event. The last National Air Races had taken place in 1939, just as war was breaking out in Europe. This prompted the United States to begin designing and manufacturing aircraft for its allies. The National Air Races attracted pre-war race pilots, air show performers, and many celebrated wartime pilots as participants and judges.

The public was treated to an amazing display of the latest combat aircraft from all military branches, which had been developed during the years since the last Air Races. Our plane (now flying under a civilian registration of NX66111 as “Full House”) crashed on its belly during time trials due to an engine failure. It suffered tremendous damage. Her pilot and owner Jack Hardwick went on to fly in subsequent National Air Races, but his P-51 went on to the next milestone in her storied career.

After World War II, there was a demand for retired war planes - some legal, some not so much. Planes such as the Mustang and Flying Fortress were in demand from other countries, including the fledgling nation of Israel. After Jack Hardwick repaired NX66111, he sold it to Alfred Schwimmer, who was subsequently investigated by the FBI for illegally selling aircraft to Israel. Jack Hardwick re-acquired the airframe in 1954, and by adding crude dual-controls, marketed it as a TP-51D. He then sold it to B.L. Tractman of Miami, FL, who also had a history of illegally selling aircraft to foreign countries. It appears that many repairs and modifications were done, as well as changes to the registration and type of plane listed, likely to hide its true nature while being sold. B.L Tractman effectively hid 44-12852's identity from the FBI by identifying it as a “P-51 dual type trainer N22B.” This allowed B.L. Tractman to bypass export laws and sell the Mustang for $50,000 to the Dominican Republic where it proudly became known as FAD 1900.

DOMINCAN REPUBLIC AIR FORCE
In April of 1954 the plane returned to its roots as a fighter, but this time as part of the "Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana", the Dominican Air Force. Registered under the identifier FAD 1900, she and other P-51's were under the command of Coronel Rafael Díaz Bonilla, known as “El Diablo Rojo” (The Red Devil). During this time, tensions between the Dominican Republic and Cuba were high, and the Mustangs were used to defend the borders and waters of the Dominican Republic. In July of 1982, the D.R. only had a handful of Mustangs left and they were all finally retired in 1984. Thus, The Red Devil was bestowed the distinction of being the last military P-51 instructor as well as the last military commander of the last combat military squadron of Mustangs anywhere in the world!

PHOTO GALLARY