Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-51D-25-NA by North American at Inglewood, California, USA.

1 January 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-73196.

Transferred to McClellan AFB, CA.

December 1957

Spotted at Winslow, AZ with a civil registration placed over the ANG markings.

6 December 1957

To Harry T. Falk, Vacaville, CA with new c/r N5449V.
Obtained from USAF disposal at McClellan.

25 May 1958

To Nicholas J. Biever, San Francisco, CA.

29 May 1958

Certificate of airworthiness for N5449V issued.

17 July 1958

To Alford Refrigerated Warehouses, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N5449V.

From 9 March 1959 to 1964

To Fred H. Johnson, Summitville, OH keeping c/r N5449V.

1963

To Fred Johnson Jr., Summitville OH keeping c/r N5449V.

From 4 December 1964 to 1972

To Walter H. Hackett, Niles, OH keeping c/r N5449V.

11 December 1972

To Neely Bros Construction Corp, Jackson, MS keeping c/r N5449V.

From 8 November 1973 to 1978

To Charles R. Milam, Layfayette, LA keeping c/r N5449V.

1978

To Don Davis keeping c/r N5449V.

From 27 March 1978 to 1981

To Scott Smith Oldsmobile Inc, Orlando, FL keeping c/r N5449V.

From 12 September 1978 to 17 September 1978

Raced as #04, named Ge Ge II.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Scott Smith. Qualified in 5th place with an average speed of 383.92 mph. Raced in Heat 1. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 371.46 mph. Raced in the Trophy race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 370.39 mph.

12 September 1978

Photographer: Charlene Aro

24 February 1979

Photographer: Larry Johnson
Notes: At Homestead General Airport, Florida

From 26 February 1979 to 4 March 1979

Raced as #04, named Ge Ge II.
Competed at the Homestead Florida in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Scott Smith from Orlando, FL. Qualified in 8th place with an average speed of 346.153 mph. Did not start in Heat 1 Bronze. Raced in the Silver Semi-Final race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 339.576 mph. Raced in the Stock Plane Saturday race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 329.540 mph. Flew the entire final lap of the Silver Final race with coolant streaming from the aircraft. Took the checkered flag to win, pulled up and declared a may-day and landed.

From 10 September 1980 to 14 September 1980

Raced as #04, named Ge Ge II.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Bill Whittington. Qualified in 11th place with an average speed of 370.11 mph. Raced in the Bronze 1 race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 368.08 mph. Started the Silver race, but did not finish. Raced in the Gold Semi-Final race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 358.45 mph. Pulled out on the fifth lap with a broken prop seal.

Circa 1980

Photographer: Charlene Aro

29 April 1981

To World Jet Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N5449V.

From 15 September 1981 to 20 September 1981

Raced as #81, named Ge Ge II.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Earl Ketchen. Qualified in 9th place with an average speed of 381.08 mph. Started the Bronze 2 race, but was disqualified. Raced in the Silver race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 368.86 mph. Started the Gold 1 race, but was disqualified. Broke the course deadline on the main straightaway.

Circa 15 September 1981

Photographer: Gary Maisack
Notes: At Reno Air Races, Nevada

From 30 September 1981 to 1984

To Tired Iron Racing Team/Don C. Davis, Casper, WY keeping c/r N5449V.

September 1982

Photographer: Gary Maisack
Notes: Reno Air Races, NV

From 14 September 1982 to 19 September 1982

Raced as #81, named HABU.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Earl Ketchen. Qualified in 12th place with an average speed of 371.69 mph. Raced in the Silver race. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 358.13 mph. Raced in the Silver 1 race. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 360.41 mph. Raced in the Silver Semi-Final race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 378.09 mph.

From 12 September 1983 to 18 September 1983

Raced as #81, named HABU.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Earl Ketchen. Qualified in 13th place with an average speed of 374.94 mph. Raced in the Bronze 2 race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 400.72 mph. Raced in the Silver race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 371.13 mph. Started the Silver 1 race, but did not finish. Pulled out on the fifth lap when an oil line broke.

Circa 12 September 1983

Photographer: Shawn Aro

Circa 12 September 1983

Photographer: Robert Dias
Notes: Photographed at the Reno Air Races.

27 September 1983

Certificate of airworthiness for NL5449V (P-51D, 44-73196N) issued.

15 July 1984

Crashed.
There were two fatalities. The accident occurred at the Unknown Airport Carbondale, CO, United States while maneuvering. The airframe was destroyed. The pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers in a P-51D that had been modified for racing exhibition. Witnesses near the accident site stated that the aircraft had just completed several aerobatic maneuvers before it began a vertical climb. The climb was terminated at about 3000 feet, then the aircraft went into a nose down spin...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

The remains of the wreck were salvaged and placed in storage.

18 May 1985

To Don C. Davis, Casper, WY keeping c/r N5449V.

From 2014 to 2015

To Classic Flying Machine Collection/Phil Earthey, Norwich, UK.
Acquired as a restoration project.

22 December 2014

Civil registration, N5449V, cancelled.

12 August 2015

To Phil Earthey, Leycoussaudie, France with new c/r G-CITN (NORTH AMERICAN P-51D-25-NA, 122-39655).
Under restoration.

17 May 2024

To Qualitair Llc Trustee, Michelstadt with new c/r N5449V.