A well-known Mustang returns to Europe

Warbird Experiences Ltd of Biggin Hill have announced that they have acquired 1944 built North American P-51D N51VL ‘Moonbeam McSwine’. Warbird Experiences already operate three two-seat Spitfires and a Mustang.

The aircraft is currently packed in a shipping container departing from New York, and is due to arrive in the UK before the end of February. The Spitfire Company engineering team will then unload, inspect and re-assemble the aircraft ready for passenger flights the coming season. The registration G-MCSW was already reserved on 20 November 2024.

The fighter used to be a familiar sight in Europe as it was bought by Frenchman Frederic Akary in Avignon and registered as F-AZXS in 2013. He sold it on 25 April 2018 to Moonbeam Historic Military Aircraft LLC, Waukegan (IL) as N51VL. The group allegedly bought the Mustang as a tribute to the late Vlado Lenoch, who used to fly ‘Moonbeam Mcswine’. Lenoch died in the crash of another P-51, ‘Baby Duck’, in Atchinson (KS) on 17 July 2017.

‘Moonbeam Mcswine’ has the livery of a so-called ‘Blue-noser’ Mustang. As such, it pays tribute to the 352nd Fighter Group of the USAAF 8th Air Force in WW II. The aircraft has an interesting history, as it was even flown by the Fuerza Area Salvadorena (El Salvador Air Force) as FAS 406. Since 1974 it returned to civilian use as N32FF and later N2151D before finally arriving in France.

Although painted as '44-14237' ‘Moonbeam Mcswine’ is in fact P-51D 44-73656 (c/n 122-40196). And to contribute to the confusion, the registry of the British Civil Aviation Authority indicates the plane as '44-12473' But that is surely a typo.

Photo: flyaspitfire.com