Dates

Event

October 1944

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

March 1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-73656.

29 March 1945

Transported by ship.
Via Newark NJ shipping dock to USAAF depot in Great Britain. Not assigned to a unit.

July 1945

Transported by ship.
Returned to USAAF depot, Newark NJ.

31 March 1947

Transferred to 182nd Fighter Squadron, 136th Fighter Group (ANG), Brooks AFB, San Antonio.

18 September 1947

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 44-73656.

1948

Redesignated as F-51D.

16 November 1950

Transferred to 136th Fighter Group, Continental Air Command, Langley AFB, VA.

26 December 1950

136th FG reassigned to Tactical Air Command.

3 May 1951

Transferred to 120th Fighter Squadron (ANG), Buckley Field, CO.

31 March 1953

Transferred to 109th Fighter Squadron (ANG), 133rd Fighter-Interceptor Group, Saint. Paul-Minneapolis, MN.

10 December 1956

Assigned to McClellan AFB, Sacramento CA for storage.

February 1958

To Delta A [and] E Parts Inc of N. Carolina with new c/r N5073K.
Purchased surplus for $1,307.50.

May 1958

To Michael E. Coutches/American Aircraft Sales, Hayward, CA keeping c/r N5073K.

From December 1958 to 1963

To David Lindsay Jr.-Trans Florida Aviation, Sarasota, FL keeping c/r N5073K.

From 1959 to By 1963

Converted to an Executive Mustang by Cavalier.
Cavalier 750.

1963

To Dunbar-Stanley Studios, Charlotte, NC keeping c/r N5073K.

From 1963 to 1966

To Howard Olsen, Midland, TX keeping c/r N5073K.

From 12 September 1964 to 12 September 1964

Raced as #1.
The race was from Saint Petersburg, FL, to Reno. Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Harolds Club Transcontinental race. The primary pilot was Howard Olsen. Started the One Mile Course race, but did not finish. Pulled out due to bad weather and landed at Ocala, Florida.

3 April 1968

To Lefty Gardner/Duncan Aeromotive Inc, Galveston, TX keeping c/r N5073K.

From December 1968 to 1974

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Fuerza Aerea Salvadorenais with s/n 406.

1 November 1974

To Jack W. Flaherty/Flaherty Factors Inc, Monterey, CA with new c/r N32FF.

November 1974

Adopted the ID of P-51K USAAF s/n 44-12473 on return to USA.

1975

To Gordon Plaskett, King City, CA keeping c/r N32FF.

1976

Restored.
Markings Applied: Moonbeam McSwine, HO-W, 414237

From 1976 to 1981

To Gordon Plaskett, King City, CA with new c/r N2151D.

14 January 1977

Civil registration, N5073K, cancelled.

From March 1981 to 1987

To Chris Williams, Ellensburg, WA keeping c/r N2151D.

April 1988

To Vlado Lenoch/Lenoch Engineering Inc, La Grange, IL keeping c/r N2151D.

28 September 1988

To Lenoch Engineering Inc, Indian Head Park, IL keeping c/r N2151D.

Based at Will County Airport, Romeoville, IL.
View the Location Dossier

3 May 1989

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: Photographed from the control tower at DuPage Airport, West Chicago, IL

19 August 1995

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Wings of Eagles Airshow at Batavia, New York.

From 8 September 1997 to 14 September 1997

Raced as #51, named Moonbeam McSwine.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Vlado Lenoch from La Grange, IL. Qualified in 20th place with an average speed of 363.400 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 3rd place with an average speed of 337.432 mph. Raced in Heat 2C. Finished in 7th place with an average speed of 359.639 mph. Raced in Heat 3D. Finished in 6th place with an average speed of 368.070 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 362.509 mph.

23 October 1997

Certificate of airworthiness for NL2151D (F-51D, 44-12473) issued.

1999

Finished 1st in Bronze at 369 mph at Reno.

8 April 1999

Photographer: Earl A Holmquist
Notes: Photographed at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends at Kissimmee, FL.

8 April 1999

Photographer: Earl A Holmquist
Notes: Photographed at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends at Kissimmee, FL.

From 13 September 1999 to 19 September 1999

Raced as #51, named Moonbeam McSwine.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Vlado Lenoch from Burr Ridge, IL. Qualified in 21st place with an average speed of 363.161 mph. Raced in Heat 1C. Finished in 2nd place with an average speed of 362.329 mph. Raced in Heat 3. Finished in 5th place with an average speed of 366.994 mph. Raced in the Medallion 2 race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 368.771 mph.

2000

Qualified 27th at 298 mph at Reno.

From 11 September 2000 to 17 September 2000

Raced as #51, named Moonbeam McSwine.
Competed at the National Championship Air Races in the Unlimited class. The primary pilot was Vlado Lenoch from LaGrange, IL. Qualified in 27th place with an average speed of 298.543 mph.

21 October 2005

Certificate of airworthiness for NL2151D (F-51D, 44-12473) issued.

3 October 2011

Certificate of airworthiness for NL2151D (F-51D, 44-12473) issued.

4 August 2012

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Thunder Over Michigan at the historic Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

4 August 2012

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Thunder Over Michigan at the historic Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

10 August 2012

Civil registration, N5073K, cancelled.

15 May 2013

Civil registration, N2151D, cancelled.
Exported to France.

6 June 2013

To Frederic Akary, Avignon-Caumont, France with new c/r F-AZXS.
Based at Avignon Caumont.

12 July 2013

Photographer: Lance Kuhn
Notes: Frederic Akary brings his P-51D, Moonbeam McSwine by on a nice topside pass during his practice display on Friday prior to the 2013 Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford

25 April 2018

To Moonbeam Historic Military Aircraft Llc, Waukegan, IL with new c/r N51VL.

12 July 2018

Certificate of airworthiness for NL51VL (F-51D, 44-12473) issued.

Photographer: Lance Kuhn
Notes: Frederic Akary on takeoff in the P-51D, Moonbeam McSwine on Saturday at the 2015 Flying Legends Airshoe at Duxford

26 July 2022

Photographer: Mike Fuller
Notes: Photo taken at EAA Airventure/Oskosh

18 November 2024

Civil registration, N51VL, cancelled.
Exported to United Kingdom.

20 November 2024

To Warbird Experiences Ltd, Biggin Hill, England with new c/r G-MCSW.
Operated with markings: 414237, HO-W, Moonbeam McSwine
UK register shows c/n 111-30606.