WIX Archives
Re: NEAM Hispona and other New England News
Posted by Brad on Thu Jun 19, 2003 04:10:57 AM
In reply top NEAM Hispona and other New England News posted by Rob Rohr on Wed Jun 18, 2003 08:02:37 PM
This Hispano was once owned by Don Knapp. He was killed in the crash of his all red P-51 44-72446 on 23Jun90. He had been living in Florida and had a company called DK Precision. He also had some tie-in with the Wittington Brothers but I don't know exactly what it was. Anyhow, just before he was killed, he moved to Abilene, Texas. I don't know if the Hispano ever made the move, but I do know that his plan was to convert it to a DB engined Messerschmitt. I am pretty sure that Don didn't own it during the time frame the NEAM had it on display. I don't ever remember hearing about this plane being in an accident, and I think Don would have said something about it if it had. I do seem to remember the Kalamazoo plane being ground looped at some time. It was repainted after being repaired, but Mikael has a picture of the old scheme on his websight.
http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/messerschmitt/images/c4k100.jpg
I don't think these two planes are the same. I say that because I seem to remember them both being owned by different people at the same time. But, I could be wrong. I also seem to remember seeing a picture in an old issue of Warbirds Worldwide of the Hispano in question when it was owned by Bill Anderson. If the picture is what I remember, then they are two different planes.
As a side note, Don also owned Harry Doan's old F4U-1A as well as a Firefly.
Brad