New Mustang in Belgium: ‘Little Rebel’

On 26 February 2022, a ‘new’ North American P-51D Mustang has arrived at FAST Aero in Brasschaat, Belgium. The fighter, still registered in the US as N5551D, is former USAAF 45-11495 (c/n 124-48248). It is painted in the colours of the Mustang ‘Little Rebel’ as was flown by Charles ‘Buck’ Pattillo, one the pilots of 486th FS, one of the three Fighter Squadrons in the USAAF 352nd Fighter Group.

After the end of WW II, Mustang 45-11495 was delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ2406. As far as can be ascertained, it did not fly much, and spent most of its days in storage.

Fifty-five years later the fighter was acquired by Philip Cheltenham in the United Kingdom. His plans to restore the plane failed and he sold it to Bob Baker of Alva (OK), USA in 2005.

Bob started the restoration of the fighter one year later, reserving the registration N495RB for it on 25 July 2006. During this restoration, a second,  passenger, seat was installed behind that of the pilot. Three years later, when the restoration was completed, N495RB was reregistered as N5551D. It made its first public appearance during the 2009 EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh and immediately gained fame: ‘Little Rebel’ won the ‘Best P-51 Award’.

The Mustang has not flown very much since that moment in 2009. It was offered for sale with only 88 hours ‘on the clock’ since its complete restoration. It sure is excellent news, as we can never have enough Mustangs around. We wish the new owner, Steve Stead, happy flying in his beautiful new bird!

(photos by Jeff Stoermer (top) and Classic Aircraft Displays