p-51 Mustang.
Jul 6, 2017 15:10:17 #
incredible journey for a super Aircraft. I had never heard of Bill Overstreet before, but what he did surely deserves more publicity!
Jul 6, 2017 15:12:12 #
Jul 7, 2017 05:58:31 #
richosob
Loc: Lambertville, MI
Doddy wrote:
incredible journey for a super Aircraft. I had never heard of Bill Overstreet before, but what he did surely deserves more publicity!
Great story. Thanks for sharing
Rich
Jul 7, 2017 06:48:44 #
If interested, the Smithsonian has a P-51 Excalibur on display.
Wonderful history on this plane.
I don't mean to high-jack thread.
Wonderful history on this plane.
I don't mean to high-jack thread.
Jul 7, 2017 08:50:26 #
Jul 7, 2017 11:40:35 #
It's been a long time (60+) years, but I seem to recall an article I read probably in the 50's about some American pilot USAAF or USAF who had flown a P-51 from the US non stop across the Atlantic to somewhere in Europe. I think the wings were refitted so the entire wing volume was sealed to make them gas tanks; don't remember what else was done to the plane.
Jul 7, 2017 18:02:33 #
During WWII Bill Overstreet chased a German fighter under the Eiffel Tower, don't remember the outcome other Bill made it back to his base,I think.
Bill Overstreet passed away a few years ago.
Bill Overstreet passed away a few years ago.
Jul 7, 2017 18:26:11 #
sirlensalot
Loc: Arizona
Saw one hanging from a ceiling in a museum in the UK. Would love to see one fly one day.
Jul 7, 2017 19:33:39 #
canarywood1
Loc: Sarasota,Florida
sirlensalot wrote:
Saw one hanging from a ceiling in a museum in the UK. Would love to see one fly one day.
A lot of them airworthy here in the States, here's a list.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_North_American_P-51_Mustangs
Jul 9, 2017 19:29:28 #
FrankR
Loc: NYC
JCam wrote:
It's been a long time (60+) years, but I seem to recall an article I read probably in the 50's about some American pilot USAAF or USAF who had flown a P-51 from the US non stop across the Atlantic to somewhere in Europe. I think the wings were refitted so the entire wing volume was sealed to make them gas tanks; don't remember what else was done to the plane.
You read about Charles F Blair Jr, a former Naval Aviator during WWII, later a USAF Brigadier General. He flew the P51 "Excaliber III nonstop from New York to London in Jan of '51 and in May of that year flew nonstop from Bardufus Norway to Fairbanks Alaska. He was awarded the Harmon Trophy in 1951 and still holds the record for the fastest trans Atlantic flight for piston aircraft. In '59, he commanded a flight of two F100s from England to Alaska in the first transpolar flight for jet fighter aircraft. He was awarded the DFC for that. I knew him, VERY VERY casually as Captain Blair, a senior pilot for Pan Am. He also owned Antilles Airboats, an airline that flew amphibians between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. And as if that wasn't enough for one man, he was married to Maureen O'Hara. He died in a crash of a Grumman Goose he was flying between St Thomas and St Croix. He was a true aviator and a pioneer.
Jul 11, 2017 14:32:43 #
Doddy wrote:
incredible journey for a super Aircraft. I had never heard of Bill Overstreet before, but what he did surely deserves more publicity!
Very good post, my friend; the P-51 is one of three great planes of WWII; the other two are the F-4U Corsair and the Supermarine Spitfire.
Jul 14, 2017 09:42:54 #
FrankR
Loc: NYC
Rob48 wrote:
Very good post, my friend; the P-51 is one of three great planes of WWII; the other two are the F-4U Corsair and the Supermarine Spitfire.
I think there were more than three great aircraft in WWII. Any list would have to include the Zero, Me109, B-17, Hawker Hurricane and several others too.
Jul 14, 2017 10:57:38 #
FrankR wrote:
I think there were more than three great aircraft in WWII. Any list would have to include the Zero, Me109, B-17, Hawker Hurricane and several others too.
gotta include the Me 262 in that list
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.