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On entering Hangar 3, to the left in the roped off area between the pedestrian walkway and hangar doors, is the home of The Old Flying Machine Company and its small fleet of aircraft consisting of Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXb/MH434/
(G-ASJV) and North American P-51D-25NA Mustang 'Ferocious Frankie'/44-73419/(G-BTCD).

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Page Updated:- 21Apr12

North American P-51D-25NA Mustang/'Ferocious Frankie'/44-73419/(G-BTCD).

Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXb/MH434/G-ASJV/(Cn: CBAF IX552)

FEB 1945:- 44-73149 accepted by the USAAF.
MAR 1945:- Shipped to the United Kingdom and service with the 8th Air Force.
JAN 1946:- Returned to the USA.
MAR 1947:- Transfered to the Royal Canadian Air Force as 9568.
FEB 1957:- Sold into the civilian market and registered as N6340T had several owners over the years and a wheels up landing reported in 1965.
AUG 1974:- Flew in the Reno Air Races in the unlimited class as 'Candyman' and came second with an average speed of 384mph.
AUG 1976:- Sold on again.
MAY 1980:- Acquired by Stephen Gray and after an overhaul in the USA was delivered to Biggin Hill, May 1981.
MAY 1986:- Sold on and registered as N51JJ.
1986-91:- Leased to The Fighter Collection based at Duxford.
AUG 1990:- Damaged during landing.
JAN 1991:- Acquired by Patina Ltd and became part of The Fighter Collection with the UK registration of G-BTCD and flew as 463221/'Candyman-Moose'/G4-5.
APR 1999:- Acquired by the Old Flying Machine Company and flown as 413704/B7-H/'Fearless Frankie'

Wearing the colours of 44-13704 as flown by Major Wallace E Hopkins who was deputy commander of the 374th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group. Coded B7-H, Hopkins named his P-51 'Ferocious Frankie' after his wife.

AUG 1943:- MH434 rolled off the Castle Bromwich production line.
SEP 1943:- Entered RAF service with No 222 Sqn before moving to No 350 Sqn in 1944 before returning to No 222 Sqn. After 79 operational sorties was retired in March1945.
FEB 1947:- Acquired by the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
MAY 1947:- Shipped to Java and flown with No 322 Sqn as H-105 later carrying the codes of H-68
MAY 1949:- Crash landed at Semerang, Java and shipped back to Holland for a rebuild.
MAR 1953:- First flight after rebuild.
OCT 1953:- Acquired by the Royal Belgium Air Force. With serial SM-41 flew with the advanced Pilot School at Koksijde and with 13 Wing at Brustem.
MAR 1954:- Retired after an accident.
MAR 1956:- On the Belgium civilian register as OO-ARA
MAR 1963:- Acquired by Tim A Davies and moved to the UK now with the civilian regestration of G-ASJV.
NOV1967:- Acquired by Gp Capt T.G. 'Hamish' Mahaddie for the 'Battle of Britain' film.
FEB 1969:- Bought by Sir Adrian Swire, Chairman of Cathy Pacific Airways, and finished with the squadron codes of AC-S and a 1944 period camouflage scheme.
APR 1983:- Bought at auction by Ray Hanna.
1987:- Became one of the founding aircraft of
'The Old flying Machine Company'.

The Old Flying Machine Company Aircraft Archive