North American P-51 Mustang "Trusty Rusty".
This 1945 Mustang flew in the US Air Force until 1957. After that it came into private hands and the fighter under the name 'Miss Ashley' participated in the Reno Air Races.
In 1993, the aircraft was sold to the Early Birds Foundation. After the purchase, the aircraft was disassembled and transported in crates to the Netherlands in 1995. There the aircraft was stored at Schiphol Airport and later at the accommodation of Stichting Vroege Vogels at Lelystad Airport. With the registration PH-JAT the aircraft was entered in the register, as a tribute to the younger brother of Jaap van Mesdag. Jan-Bart "Jat" van Mesdag flew as a fighter pilot with the RAF during World War II. In March 1945, he was killed in a crash with his P-51 Mustang.
In 2004, restoration began and it was decided to nickname the Mustang 'Trusty Rusty' after the aircraft of Captain Robert P. Wink, of the 364th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group. He was regularly active in Dutch airspace during his missions in 1944 and 1945.
Seven years after restoration began, the first engine tests were conducted in March. A year later, the first test flight was made. The aircraft seats two people and is equipped with dual controls.
I took this photo during the 2019 Air Force Days at Volkel Air Base.
I am Jaap van den Berg and photography has become a great passion of mine since 2010. Since then I travel all over the world to take pictures of military aircrafts. But besides aircraft I also love to photograph other subjects like landscapes, architecture, flowers, animals, .. Read more…
Germany
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Netherlands
Germany
Netherlands
Germany
Germany
Germany
Netherlands