325147 - P-51C Mustang "Princess Elizabeth", Duxford 2013 ©Nigel Key
Princess Elizabeth |
Nooky Booky IV |
Ferocious Frankie |
Moonbeam McSwine |
Miss Velma |
Tall in the Saddle |
Big Beautiful Doll
North American Mustang P-51C ‘Princess Elizabeth’ had engine failure during take-off and crashed killing the pilot on August 7th 1945.
During the 1970’s parts of the aircraft were recovered from Israel by Pete Regina who rebuilt the mustang at Van Nuys using P-51B wings and a P-51D fuselage, the first flight took place on 11th June 1981 and flown as ‘Shangri-La’.
In 1982 it was the first P-51B/C Mustang to race at Reno since 1948 and in 1987 it was repainted in a red scheme and called ‘The Believer’ by Joseph Kasparoff.
In 1996 the mustang was acquired by Stephen Grey and became part of the Fighter Collection and renamed ‘Princess Elizabeth’
In 1998 the aircraft was disassembled and after inspection was shipped back to the US for further restoration after which it was shipped back to the UK for assembly and still carrying the name ‘Princess Elizabeth’. It was first flown after restoration in the UK in 2005.
The mustang was then purchased by Jim Beasley in December 2006 and sent to the US early 2007 though the aircraft was kept grounded until late May 2007 due to the FAA and paperwork.
In 2008 ‘Princess Elizabeth’ became part of the Friedkin family warbird collection and registered under Comanche Fighters LLC and Comanche Warbirds LLC.
Princess Elizabeth |
Nooky Booky IV |
Ferocious Frankie |
Moonbeam McSwine |
Miss Velma |
Tall in the Saddle |
Big Beautiful Doll
"PRINCESS ELIZABETH" 
