|
|
Dates |
|
Event |
|
|
Constructed as a P-51D-20-NA by North American at Inglewood, California, USA. |
Circa January 1945 |
|
Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-72446. |
Circa January 1945 |
|
Transferred to 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, RAF Steeple Morden, England. |
Circa May 1945 |
|
Taken on Strength/Charge with the Flygvapnet with s/n Fv26139 as a J26. |
From Circa 17 January 1955 to 1963 |
|
Taken on Strength/Charge with the Fuerza Aerea de Nicaragua with s/n GN 76 as a F-51D. |
25 July 1963 |
|
To Will W. Martin/MACO Sales Finance Corp, Chicago, IL.
Bill of sale date, ID as 44-26139 based on Swedish s/n. |
2 September 1963 |
|
To MACO Sales Finance Corp./Will W. Martin, Palos PA/Chicago, IL with new c/r N6164U (F-51D, 4478246).
ID quoted to FAA was USAAF s/n 44-78246 but that belonged to a C-46D. |
September 1963 |
|
Ferry flight.
Aircraft force landed on a beach in Mexico during ferry from Nicaragua to USA. |
1963 |
|
Impounded in Mexico. |
From Circa 1963 to Circa 1972 |
|
Open storage by FAM at Mexico City. |
17 August 1965 |
|
Letter to FAA from MACO listed N6164U as scrapped, with s/n 44-78246. |
31 August 1965 |
|
Civil registration, N6164U, cancelled. |
August 1966 |
|
Civil registration N12700 reserved.
Application by MACO Corp, Chicago, IL. |
September 1972 |
|
Transported by ground.
Released and trucked from Mexico City to Chicago, IL. Badly damaged during transport. |
|
|
Restored.
Markings Applied: El Gato Rapido
Restored at Chicago-Midway. |
From 1972 to 1981 |
|
To Will W. Martin, Palos Park, IL with new c/r N12700 (F-51D, 44-26139).
Operated with markings: El Gato Rapido |
From 1972 to 1975 |
|
Restored.
Markings Applied: El Gato Rapido
Restored at Chicago Midway Airport. |
20 February 1975 |
|
First post-restoration Flight. |
20 February 1975 |
|
|
|
|
Photographer: Midway Airport Historians
Notes: Common sight around Chicago Midway in the late 70s. |
July 1979 |
|
Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Lewis-Lockport Airport (now Lewis University Airport), Romeoville, IL |
4 April 1981 |
|
To Don Knapp/DK Precision Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL. |
25 September 1981 |
|
To Don Knapp/D K Precision Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N12700. |
26 May 1990 |
|
Photographer: Gerald McMasters
Notes: Shot at Breckenridege shortly before it crashed at the Dyess AFB Open House |
23 June 1990 |
|
Crashed.
There was one fatality. The accident occurred at the Dyess Airport (DYS) Abilene, TX, United States while maneuvering. The airframe was destroyed. According to witnesses, the pilot began his air show routine with a low pass down the runway from north to south. He then made a climbing turn to a close-in downwind leg. At the end of the downwind leg, the airplane entered a climbing right turn at what was reported to be a slower that normal speed...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report. |
25 October 1999 |
|
Civil registration, N12700, cancelled. |
