1944 "Lady B" p-51d Mustang S/N 44-74506 (RCAF 9231)

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North American P-51D Serial Number 44-74506 (RCAF 9231)

The North American P-51D Mustang "Lady B", serial number 44-74506, is an aircraft with a remarkable history spanning nearly eight decades of military service, civilian ownership, air racing, and preservation. Manufactured by North American Aviation in Inglewood, California, on December 12, 1944, the Lady B has undergone multiple transformations, ownerships, and paint schemes while remaining a flying tribute to aviation history.

Military Service

United States Army Air Forces (USAAF)

• June 16, 1945: Delivered to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and assigned to the 336th Air Base Group, Continental Air Force, stationed at Sarasota Army Air Field, Florida.

• November 29, 1945: Transferred to the 160th Air Base Group (Air Technical Service Command) at Hobbs Air Force Base, New Mexico.

• August 7, 1947: Moved to 4121st Air Base Group (Air Material Command) at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

• August 23, 1950: Sent to Burbank Air Material Center (AMC) in California.

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

• November 30, 1950: Transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) under the Military Assistance Programand re-designated as RCAF 9231.

• Served in various operational roles until November 1, 1960, when it was retired from military service and sold into civilian ownership.

Transition to Civilian Ownership

After being retired from military duty, the aircraft entered civilian life and underwent several ownership transfers:

• December 30, 1958: Purchased by James DeFuria and Fred Ritts of Intercontinental Airways in Dewitt, New York, and registered as CF-MWM.

• 1960: Acquired by Aero Enterprises, an aviation company based in Elkhart, Indiana, and re-registered as N6317T.

• June 21, 1962: Sold to Ed Weiner of Los Angeles, California, and re-registered as N335J.

Air Racing Era (1960s-1970s)

During the 1960s and 1970s, Lady B was converted into an air racer and became well-known in the Reno Air Races circuit under various names and race numbers.

Notable Air Racing Achievements:

• 1964 Harold’s Club Transcontinental Trophy Dash:

• Entered as Race #14, but the aircraft failed to finish (DNF).

• 1965 Harold’s Club Transcontinental Trophy Dash:

• Flew from Clearwater, Florida, to Reno, Nevada, winning first place with an average speed of 348 mph.

• Raced under different names, including:

• “Bardahl Special”

• “Hi Time II”

• Raced as #49

Restorations and the next generation of Private Ownership

• 1973-1979: Owned by Violet Bonzer of Los Angeles, who loaned the aircraft to the EAA Museum in Hales Corner, Wisconsin.

• 1979-1990: Passed through multiple owners, including Max Hoffman (Fort Collins, CO), Wolcott Air Services (CT), and Gary Norton (Norton Aero, ID).

• 1993-2002: Purchased by Rene Bouverat in France and registered as F-AZJJ. The aircraft was stationed in Europe before returning to the United States in 2001.

• June 2002: Spotted flying in Paso Robles, California, in a USAAF paint scheme (JR-B).

• 2005-2007: Registered under SLT Flight Corp. (Dover, DE) as N151FT and named “Lady B.”

• 2007-2024: privately owned in Port Orange, Florida, and still operational

July of 2024 - Acquired by Jack and Joan Venaleck of Concord, Ohio for addition to the Legends Museum

Current Specifications:

• Airframe Hours: 1,530 total.

• Engine: Rolls Royce Merlin V-1650-7 .

• Modern Avionics: Equipped with Garmin GTN650.

Modifications:

• Cuffed bladed propeller.

• Dual spin-on oil filter system.