57987, as NX-1204V, during September, 1948, was delivered to the Dominican Republic. Navy on July 31, 1947, this aircraft, a rare "razorback" P-51A, ex-BuAer. It went on to have a most interesting FAD history.Īfter being stricken from the rolls of the U.S. This aircraft was later repaired and delivered in fully combat-ready form to the Dominican Air Force where it became FAD 1900 (#2). Lindsay, Jr., and went on to tell the CAV storY in capsule form, though not without some exaggeration and mistakes in fact.į-6K-15-NT, NX-6611, after an unsuccessful premature landing during the course of the 1946 Cleveland Air Races. Pinkerton's news story dealt with the unique CAV (Cavalier Aircraft Corporation) of Florida newspaper publisher David B. in the June 11, 1971, issue of that prestigious daily-a succinct statement which to a greater or lesser extent seems to sum up the commonly held view of the Mustang's service in Latin America. Our story will examine the use of the Mustang in order of chronological entry into service, by country of operation, and the photos, drawings and tables which accompany the text will, we feel, bring together the best understanding of this convoluted tale that can be found anywhere.īACKGROUND: "Uneasy About a Coup? Maybe P-51 Mustangs Will Save the Regime," went the headline of a Wall Street Journal single-column story by staff reporter W. The seeker of absolute solutions to long-standing mysteries revolving around half-truths and assumptions of previous attempts at this story will quickly note that some of these remain so, perforce, due to the fact thatĪ significant number of the Mustangs that went to Latin America left North American shores under circumstances that can only inadequately be described as 'clandestine.' Even so, and with the help of a small team of truly outstanding researchers, the story which follows is certainly the first time that many of these facts have met the light of day, and will, we hope, assist determined researchers towards a fuller understanding of what has-and has not-transpired. But, to paraphrase the trademark of noted newscaster Paul Harvey, it is now time to learn "the rest of the story," and, insofar as it may ever be known, it is told herein.
and tramp fighter-a fate that certainly had some basis in fact, since nearly half of the F-51 's which found their way south through shadowy and clouded channels did indeed form the cutting edge of more than one tyrant's armed might. Unfortunately, the picture painted lent credence to the fact that the Mustang, Allied champion of the greatest war in history, had been reduced to the lot of mercenary.
Finally, our love and thanks to our long-suffering wives, who have had to compete with that "other woman"the Mustang-and without whom we would have had no purpose.
And very special thanks to Connie Edwards for permission to photograph his stored Mustangs. Satterfield, and the Small Air Forces Observer (SAFO), Coronel de Aviacion (R) Amalia Villa de la Tapia, FAB, John Underwood, Jerry E. McManus, 182nd TFS, Texas ANG, Dick Phillips, Robert J. Menard, Nery Mendiburu, Jay and Susan Miller, MSG Bob MacArthur, USA (Ret), Peter T. Kerr, Gary Kuhn, Ph.D., Gayle Lawson, David W. Gougan, AI Hansen, Eden Harriss, Noam Hartoch, Mark C. would like to express their thanks to the following individuals who contributed photographs and/or data to this DATAGRAPH: Archie Baldocchi, Roger F. Noteworthy are the wing-mounted missile (usually to accommodate 2.75-inch rockets) and bomb racks.ĬREDITS: The authors and Aerofax, Inc.
The aircraft serial number was painted in small black numbers on the vertical fin. THE NORTH AMERICAN F♵1 MUSTANGS IN LATIN AMERICAN AIR FORCE SERVICE STORYį-51D, FAD 1916, of the Dominican Air Force during a practice mission while in its final year of FAD service, FAD F-51's, at this time, were camouflaged in a tan and green scheme (with white undersurfaces) that proved quite effective over the backdrop of the lush Latin American jungles. North American F-51 Mustangs In Latin American Air Force Service by John Dienst & Dan Hagedorn ISBN 0-94 ©1985 VWR will support you from the latest life science products to the guaranteed purity of organic building blocks._-Aerofax Datagraph 1 A strong, vibrant research and development group is the lifeblood of all industries.