Not For Sale
Serial Number 44-72253
Everyone knows the P-51 Mustang - otherwise known as “the plane that won the war.” It was introduced at the end of the war, in 1944, but still 8,000 were produced. It’s ability to fly at high speeds at high altitudes made it possible to do the impossible; escort heavy bombers all the way to Berlin, and back. There was a lot about the Mustang that made it so special, but one major component was the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The P-51A was originally built with an Allison engine, but Ronald W. Harker and Lt. Col. Thomas Hitchcock saw the Merlin a better fit. With the new engine and a change to the bubble canopy, the P-51D became the ultimate fighter and swept the skies of Europe.
About Serial Number 44-72253
This P-51D-20-NA Mustang, serial number 44-72253, was originally painted as Jane VI. We purchased Jane VI from the Muszala family at Pacific Fighters in Idaho in the spring of 2021. Since then Pacific Fighters has continued to work on the fuselage and control surfaces of the aircraft.
Jane VI rolled off the North American assembly line in December of 1944 in Inglewood, California and was assigned to the now-famous 355th Fighter Group. The mustang went onto fly sixty hours of combat with Lt. Col. Bert Wilder Marshall, Jr. and escorted many B-17s and B-24s into the heart of Germany. On March 31, 1945, Lt. Col. Marshall and Jane VI WR-B were hit by anti-aircraft and limped over two hours to the 1st Service Group Hangar at Steeple Morden where Jane VI was repaired. On April 3, Jane VI was operational again as WR-B Jane VI until April 13 when there was a strafing attack, and Jane VI was re-coded to WR-L and assigned to Flt Officer Hixon. Lt. C. Hixon first flew the repaired 253 on April 16. After the war, Lt. Glen D. Beeler was flying 44-72253 in training missions, one of which was a photo op of the 355th Fighter Group. During the shoot, Beeler collided with future Korean War ace James Jabara, who was flying WR-K. Serial number 44-72253 remained lost until decades later when Aviation Archeologists discovered the remains of the aircraft and after completing six years of research sold it to renowned English Warbird restorer, Craig Charleston. Eventually, the Muszala family purchased serial number 44-72253, and started restoring the plane in 2019. In the early spring of 2021, Fagen Fighters Restoration purchased the mustang from the Muszala’s, and will bring the aircraft to its complete 1940s authentic condition.
Summary
JANE VI 44-72253 was assigned to LtCol Bert W. Marshall, Jr from February 20 through April 13.
Total Combat Missions - 14, Twelve by Marshall, One by 355FG CO LtC Claiborne Kinnard, One by future NAA X-15 and B-70 Test Pilot Cpt Al White.
Total Combat hours (approximate) 100 - 70 Marshall, 12 by Kinnard/White as WR-BJANE VI; 18 by Hixon. Estimate 20 hours Post VE Day as WR-L.
Victory Credits - 4 on ground at Husum airfield on April 13th, 1945, Lt. Col. Bert W. Marshall, Jr.
