Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-51D-30-NA by North American at Inglewood, California, USA.

Circa 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-74543.

1948

Redesignated as F-51D.

24 November 1950

Transferred to No. 6 Repair Depot, Trenton, ON.
Installation of JJ gear (possibly TT gear) on fly in basis. Alloted to ADC.

6 December 1950

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Canadian Air Force with s/n 9252 as a Mustang TF.IV.

6 December 1950

Transferred to Training Command, Station Hamilton, ON.

15 August 1951

Transferred to No. 424 Squadron (Auxiliary), Hamilton, ON.
Operated with markings: BA-252

14 February 1952

Contracted to No. 10 TSU, McDonald Brothers Aircraft Company, Winnipeg, MB for work on the airframe.

17 April 1952

Transferred to No. 6 Repair Depot, Trenton, ON.

16 July 1952

Transferred to No. 424 Squadron (Auxiliary), Hamilton, ON.

18 September 1952

Transferred to No. 10 TSU, Winnipeg, MB.

4 September 1956

Transferred to No. 424 Squadron (Auxiliary), Hamilton, ON.
Operated with markings: PV-252

25 February 1957

To Intercontinental Airways/James H. Defuria Fred J. Ritts, Canastota, NY.

1957

Ferry flight.
Flown to Canastota, NY and placed in storage there.

17 December 1959

Struck off Strength/Charge from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

From 28 June 1961 to By 1965

To Ray O. Denman, Brewerton, NY.
Sold to Mr. Denman as scrap.

Used as an advertising display at the Denman Pontiac car yard.

From 30 June 1965 to 1967

To Richard M. Vartanian, Pasadena, CA.

27 December 1967

To Richard M. Vartanian, Sierra Madre, CA with new c/r N4543 {1}.

June 1974

Transported by ground.
Moved from Canastota.

By 1980

Stored dismantled at Brewerton NY.

From 1980 to 1982

Stored dismantled at Johnstown, NY.

December 1982

Stored dismantled at Gloversville, NY. RCAF 9252, PV252 readable on fuselage.

Editor note: It is assumed that at this point the airframe was used as the basis of a restoration using components from USAF s/n 44-63655 c/r N6153U.
For more information about this other airframe see this Airframe Dossier

Editor note: There may be an ownership dispute with this airframe. Another party keeps it registered as c/r N4543. Those registration events are being tracked in another dossier even though the airframe my no longer exist in paperwork or physical form. All of this is uncertain.
For more information about this other airframe see this Airframe Dossier

From January 1985 to 1998

To Wings Wheels Inc/Will Martin, Palos Park, IL with new c/r N5500S (F-51D, 44-63655).

1990

Restoration started.
The restoration was started in Chicago, IL. It is thought that USAAF s/n 44-63655 c/r N6153U was used in the restoration of this airframe, with this airframe adopting the ID of 44-63655 as well. It is possible that 44-63655, which was previously wrecked, was simply scrapped and this was just an ID transfer.

1 July 1998

To Amphib Inc/Charles Greenhill, Wheeling, IL keeping c/r N5500S.
Mr. Greenhill acquired a partially restored airframe.

24 August 1998

To Amphib Inc, Lake Zurich, IL keeping c/r N5500S.

Based at Chuck Greenhill Private Collection, Kenosha Regional Airport, Milwaukee, WI.
View the Location Dossier

1998

Transported by ground.
Moved to Chino, CA.

Contracted to Square One Aviation, Chino Airport, Chino, CA for work on the airframe.
View the Location Dossier

From 2000 to 2002

Restored.
Markings Applied: Geraldine, E2 B, 414320

8 August 2001

Certificate of airworthiness for NL5500S (F-51D, 44-63655) issued.

10 August 2001

First flight.
Flown at Chino.

February 2002

Ferry flight.
Moved from Chino to Kenosha, WI.

April 2002

First flight.

14 November 2002

To Ambhib Inc, Lake Zurich, IL keeping c/r N5500S.

8 January 2008

Certificate of airworthiness for NL5500S (F-51D, 44-63655) issued.

26 August 2010

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Kenosha, WI

26 August 2010

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Kenosha, WI

From 13 September 2010 to 19 September 2010

Raced as #15, named Geraldine.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Chuck Greenhill from Lake Zurich, IL. Qualified in 12th place with an average speed of 351.363 mph. Raced in Heat 1B. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 312.177 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 317.423 mph. Raced in the Consolation race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 338.186 mph.

16 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

16 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger

16 September 2010

Photographer: Mike Henniger

14 November 2018

To Richard M. Vartanian, Altadena, CA keeping c/r N4543 {1}.

2 October 2021

Civil registration, N5500S, cancelled.

25 October 2022

To Amphib Inc, Lake Zurich, IL keeping c/r N5500S.

14 March 2023

To unknown owner with c/r N5500S.
Registration pending to a new owner in Kalispell, MT.

22 May 2023

To Warbirds-3 Llc, Kalispell, MT keeping c/r N5500S.

28 July 2023

To Richard M. Vartanian, Altadena, CA keeping c/r N4543 {1}.