4484847 'Miss Velma' - 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 ‘Miss Velma’ was one of the last Mustangs built at North American’s Dallas Plant in 1944, serial No: 44-84847, and never saw service in World War II.
She served with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo, South Korea in 1951. Later that year 44-84847 was shipped back to the US and served with the Air National Guard until 1956.
In January 1999 the Mustang reappeared in North Dakota for restoration and after its first flight in May 2007 it was painted in the 55th Fighter Group scheme of Captain Frank Birtciels ‘Miss Velma’.
Following the successful completion of her flight testing, Miss Velma was fitted with external drop tanks and flew across the Atlantic to the UK, where she arrived at Duxford on the 4th July 2007.
During the 2017 Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford, ‘Miss Velma’ had engine problems and had to make an emergency crash landing in a nearby field.
The pilot managed to crash-land the aircraft with wheels up and kept the aircraft upright and he walked away uninjured.
Crash Report
In early 2018, the mustang was in the US undergoing repairs after the crash-landing and upon completion it was sent back to the UK and made its debut at the 2018 Flying Legends Airshow in its new paint scheme as ‘Contrary Mary’.
Princess Elizabeth |
Nooky Booky IV |
Ferocious Frankie |
Moonbeam McSwine |
Miss Velma |
Tall in the Saddle |
Big Beautiful Doll
'MISS VELMA' 
