there was a good reason music is down the side of this, and on the wing tips, but I didn't know what it was... Steve did! The Mustang owner's wife loved Artie Shaw's rendition of Beguine, and insisted the airplane be named Beguine with a musical score painted on the fuselage and radiator pods
It's probably the sheet music for the song "Begin The Beguine"
The wingtip pods intrigued me, so...
ReplyDelete"During 1948–1949, 42-103757 was radically modified as an Unlimited Class air racer. The lower portion of the P-51’s fuselage was removed and faired over. The radiator and engine oil cooler which had been enclosed in the Mustang’s characteristic belly scoop were relocated to the wingtips."
It was owned by the famous pilot Jackie Cochran:
"In the years following World War II, Jacqueline Cochran, WASP organizer and director, test pilot, racer, record-setter, adviser to generals and presidents, owned three North American Aviation, Inc., P-51 Mustang fighters which had been modified for racing."
Unfortunately, in its second race it crashed, killing its pilot, William Odom [who was relatively new to pylon racing], and two occupants of a house.
Quotes from thisdayinaviation.com/jackie-cochrans-north-american-aviation-inc-p-51c-mustang-racer-n5528n/
Don in Oregon
Cool. Thanks Don.
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