414237 'Moonbeam McSwine' - P-51D Mustang, Duxford 2013 ©Nigel Key
Princess Elizabeth |
Nooky Booky IV |
Ferocious Frankie |
Moonbeam McSwine |
Miss Velma |
Tall in the Saddle |
Big Beautiful Doll
North American P-51D Mustang ‘Moonbeam McSwine’ was built in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, with the serial No. 44-73656.
In October 1944 she was accepted by the USAAF and shipped to Great Britain to join the 8th Air Force.
However, she was not assigned and was returned to the USAF Depot Newark, New Jersey where it would be reassigned to be flown by the Air National Guard.
She was retired from service in 1958 and sold for surplus.
In 1968 the El Salvador Air Force acquired her and she was flown during the Soccer War conflict against Honduras until 1974.
Sold back as surplus to the USA, she was acquired by Gordon Plaskett in 1975 and restored in the colours she wears now, as ‘Moonbeam McSwine’, serial No. 414237 which was flown by Captain W. Whisner during WWII.
In 1981 ‘Moonbeam McSwine’ was acquired by Vlado Lenoch and raced at Reno in 1997, 1999 and 2000. It also flew with the USAF Heritage Flight.
In December of 2012, ‘Moonbeam McSwine’ was acquired by Frederic Akary’s Mistral Warbirds in Avignon in the South of France.
‘Moonbeam McSwine’ was acquired by the Warbird Heritage Foundation in March 2018.
Princess Elizabeth |
Nooky Booky IV |
Ferocious Frankie |
Moonbeam McSwine |
Miss Velma |
Tall in the Saddle |
Big Beautiful Doll
'MOONBEAM McSWINE' 
