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Re: Of Poles and Beaches

Posted by Dick Phillips on Fri Jan 16, 2004 01:36:24 PM

In reply top Of Poles and Beaches posted by Tulio on Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:11:33 PM

: I quoth:
:
: "Yeah..and the ID they quote is an aircraft lost over Norm
: andy in June 44 ...go figure ;-0"
:
: Unless they moved Normandy to ND, or there is actually a N
: ormandy in ND . . . ; )
:
: Saludos,

FROM DICK PHILLIPS

Several years ago, when I first heard that one of the MILLIE G's was in ND for rebuild, I too questioned the real identity.

The only thing we know for sure, is that among the pieces that Brian O'Farrell had obtained from the FAD, were pieces that were clearly from 44-14985. How they got from a crash site in Germany to the FAD, is the real mystery, but this explanation is as good as any.

Lets say that at some point during daily combat flights, MILLIE G 44-14985 suffered some tail cone damage and the tail was removed for repairs. Perhaps there was another P-51 that was out of commission, but did have a usable tail cone. In a matter of hours, that replacement tail cone could have been installed on 14985, and it could have been put back in service and shot down and lost. After the 14985 tail cone was repaired, it could have either been installed on the aircraft that loaned its tail to MILLIE or maybe just kept as a spare tail cone.
When Sweden bought the flyable mustangs after the war, they also bought a good supply of spares. Our MILLIE G tail cone "could have" made its way to Sweden in that manner. When Sweden sold its mustangs to the FAD, that tail cone might have been on an airplane or came along with the spares they also bought.
I'm not saying that this is exactly what happened, but it could explain how that tail cone made its way to North Dakota.
In any event, the new "MILLIE G" N551W, is scheduled for it's first flight tomorrow, January 17th, and I will be on hand for the event. Photos to follow.

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