Tribute to an Ace

Mustang restoration and builds have been on the rise for the past several years and none have been more important than that of the B model Mustang that Cal Pacific Airmotive, Inc of Salinas, Calif., recently pushed out of its hangar doors. What sets this particular restoration apart from other Mustang examples is that this B model is the first flying example featuring the Malcolm Hood canopy. This bulbous replacement to the original birdcage canopy was a field modification version of the canopy designed by R. Malcolm Co., before the more popular bubble canopy was built onto the D model Mustang.

This story is not only about a rare B model Mustang featuring the Malcolm Hood entering the increasing inventory of restored Mustangs, as it is about the three men involved with this restoration project who share a common passion for this iconic fighter built over 65 years ago: Jack Roush; a legend in the world of American auto racing; Col. “Bud” Anderson, an American hero, World War II veteran and triple ace; and Art Teeters… a master craftsman of the Mustang. Both Roush and Teeters were driven by the desire to bring back another rare example of the North American fighter, and in doing so pay tribute to a Mustang legend. The nearly eight year project came to a conclusion when, on a clear spring morning P-51B-1-NA, 43-12252, NL551E was pushed out of a corner hangar at the Salinas Airport, in central California.

For the small group in attendance, the day of unveiling was a special occasion. For Anderson, a man who is legend of Air Power, this day brought him together with an example of the Mustang he had flown more than 60 years ago, an airplane of the type in which he scored 13.25 aerial combat victories during World War II. This “new” Mustang, Old Crow, with her distinctive red and yellow checkerboard markings, rolled past the hangar doors and into the warm sunlight, under the intense scrutiny of Roush, Teeters, and Anderson. When Teeters escorted both Roush and Anderson for a personal inspection of the newly restored Mustang. Anderson placed his hand on the Mustang’s wingtip as if he were greeting an old friend.

From Watery Tomb to Stunning Beauty
Roush was contacted by Jay Wisler of Warbirds and Memorabilia in Tampa, Fla., who told him of a B model Mustang that had been involved in a crash just south of the Orlando area during a wartime training mission. Local papers had written stories about the crash and pilot, whose body had been recovered from the crash site. The local Sheriff’s Department offered the wreckage for bid and Roush was able to successfully obtain it with his sealed bid.

On November 19, 2001, Roush received, from the Lake County Sheriff’s Dive Team, the salvaged wreckage of P-51B-1-NA 43-12252, recovered from Lake Clermont, Fla. This particular Mustang was built 29 September 1943, in Inglewood, Calif., as part of the first production block of B model Mustangs during 1943. The aircraft was assigned to the III Fighter Command, Third Air Force, Bartow Army Air Field, Fla. With a total of 1,647.10 hours, Mustang 43-12252 was lost during a routine training mission. Piloting the Mustang at the time of the accident was decorated combat veteran, 1st Lt. Dean Gilmore. Lt. Gilmore had distinguished himself with the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for what his commanding officer described as “Steadfast devotion to duty and outstanding proficiency as a combat pilot.” With his combat tour at an end, Gilmore was assigned to Bartow Army Air Field, and asked to pass his experiences as a combat veteran to the new pilot trainees. Sadly, Lt. Gilmore did not survive the accident, but his dedication to service helped many fledgling combat pilots take the lessons learned to the enemy overseas.

The salvage of the components from the swampy lake was as complete as possible, given the fact the aircraft had been submerged for more than five decades. “We recovered, as completely as possible, a substantial number of components from the wreckage,” Roush said. So, In 2003, Teeters' team of craftsmen started the rebuild of Old Crow. Roush was familiar with the high level of standards Cal Pacific Airmotive, Inc was known for, and he had utilized Teeters’ services on other Mustang projects.

In addition to rebuilding the B model Mustang, Teeters’ team would simultaneously restore a second D model Mustang for Roush, which he had purchased in 2000. Once completed, Gentleman Jim joined the other D model Mustang Old Crow. “With the Malcolm Hood project, Jack wanted something very similar to Ina the Macon Belle, a C model Mustang we had built for Kermit Weeks,” Teeters said. With Ina the Macon Belle, Teeters’ craftsmen delivered a stunning razorback example that benchmarked future restorations of the Mustang.

The experience the Cal Pacific Airmotive, Inc team gathered restoring Ina the Macon Belle would help tremendously during the rebuild of Roush’s B model. However, the rebuild of the Malcolm Hooded Old Crow still posed a daunting and challenging task given the fact no parts from the Weeks’ project were retained for future restorations. “We never really thought that after Ina the Macon Belle was completed, there would be anymore demand to build another razorback.” Teeters said. Laughing about it today, Teeters found the attention focused on Ina the Macon Belle garnered additional opportunities for Cal Pacific Airmotive, Inc. Long hours were spent during the early stage of the project fabricating templates in order to produce the necessary components needed for the rebuild.

Jack Roush is very familiar with the history of the Mustang and was particularly intrigued by the Malcolm Hood. So during initial discussions with Teeters, Roush outlined his vision of how he wanted this particular Mustang built and made it clear he wanted to utilize the Malcolm Hood. The predecessor to the bubble canopy, this bulbous sliding canopy was designed to improve visibility over the existing birdcage-style canopies. The majority of the RAF’s Mustang IIIs were equipped with this new style canopy, and the AAF issued a field modification for those units wishing to convert their Mustangs with the new canopy. Bud Anderson expressed his impressions of the Malcolm Hood, saying, “It was a tremendous improvement in visibility over the old style canopy, especially when you tried to look behind you.”

Any rebuild of this magnitude takes time, and this unique project was no exception. From the time the project arrived in 2003, steady and constant progress was made to complete the build. During the next five years, literally thousands of man hours were put into Old Crow. The project progressed quickly with the major components coming together in fairly rapid succession. Any restoration project or build initially comes together rapidly, but can seemingly come to a halt when the tiring tasks of wiring, rigging and plumbing an aircraft need to be accomplished. “This is the point of the project where it just gets frustrating,” said Teeters. “You know progress is being made, but visually the project looks stalled.” Fabrication of the small parts like bushings, eat up man-hours, and further slow progress. In May 2007, the Mustangs fuselage was mated to the wing. Many of the panels and fairings were being fabricated, installed, and refitted. The landing gear was swung and the aircraft was weighed and measured. Many of the systems were tested and found to be working properly. It was now time to prepare the Mustang for paint.

Paying Tribute to an Icon and Legend
To complete the Malcolm Hooded Mustang, Roush wanted to bring attention to the contribution Maj. John England made as a pilot and leader during World War II. The completed B model Mustang would be painted in the motif of England’s mount, U’ve Had It. “Originally, we were going to paint this aircraft in Johnny England’s markings, and celebrate his military career.” said Roush. But during this critical point in the project, the sale of Roush’s D model Mustang Old Crow to his good friend Jim Hagedorn forced Roush to rethink the final paint scheme of his B model Mustang.

Col. Anderson first flew Roush’s D model Old Crow in 1994, before Roush, himself had the opportunity. The two D model Mustangs owned by Roush have cockpits which are set-up identical. “You can fly my first Old Crow and then go fly Gentleman Jim and find the same cockpit layout in both Mustangs with identical equipment,” Roush said. This made it very easy for Col. Anderson to be familiar with both aircraft, and be able to fly them. After purchasing the first Old Crow, Hagedorn had wanted to make a number of changes with the cockpit layout of the aircraft. Roush became faced with the fact he no longer had an Old Crow and realized the changes accomplished to the aircraft would probably make it uncomfortable for Col. Anderson to fly. “At this point, I said what I ought to do is take my Johnny England Mustang out at Art Teeters facility and make it one of Col. Anderson’s B model Mustangs,” Roush said.

Anderson flew three B model Mustangs before accepting a D model after returning for his second tour to the European Theater of Operation (ETO). Roush chose the motif of Anderson’s third B model Mustang, which carries nine victories on the side of the aircraft. Roush selected a period in time prior to the invasion of D-Day for the paint scheme. “We looked at the motifs and presentations of the airplanes before and after D-Day, and there was an awful lot of black and white that was a dissonant tone of pictorial discord as far as I was concerned,” Roush said, believing that the post-D-Day B models were not as appealing as the pre-D-Day razorback Mustangs.

So, on Christmas Eve 2006, Anderson received a call from his friend Roush, and was caught unaware as Roush detailed the final motif for his Malcolm Hooded Mustang. “I think it had more of an emotional impact for Col. Anderson than I might have expected,” Roush said. Anderson relates the conversation by saying, “It is an honor to be part of this historical project.” In fact, Anderson has maintained his involvement with the project over the years, providing valuable input during the aircraft’s progression.

Since their meeting in the early 1990's Roush and Anderson have shared in a relationship that has become very personal for both. Roush, born April 19, 1942, arrived into a world that was quite literally fighting for its liberties and freedoms against enemies on two fronts. Roush’s father, a gun captain, commanding the 16-inch guns on the USS South Dakota while patrolling the Pacific Ocean, was one of many relatives within Roush’s extended family fighting heroically on both fronts. It’s no coincidence to Roush he arrived into the world the same day Gen. J.H. “Jimmy” Doolittle and his raiders made their daring mission to strike the Japanese homeland as a response to the Pearl Harbor attacks. Saying, “I was delivered early so that I could join a nation in celebrating the success of the Doolittle Raiders.” Heroism, bravery, patriotism, and devotion to service were all characteristics that molded Roush as he was growing up. And these characteristics hold true with him today. When Roush graduated from college, he submitted two applications, one to the Ford Motor Co., and the other to the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Roush too wanted to do his part, and serve his country. The USAF turned down Roush’s request to become a pilot, instead offering him the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) seat in the F-4 Phantom. But Roush felt the hard work he had put forth getting himself through college should have afforded him a spot as a pilot. Roush turned down the Air Forces offer and began his engineering career in the automotive world. “I regret that I did not have the opportunity to become a pilot in the USAF, as I would have liked to have done my part and served my country during the Vietnam conflict.” Roush said.

Each veteran Roush has had the opportunity to meet has left an impression upon him. “I have met Col. Anderson, Gen. Robin Olds, and Bob Hoover to name but a few, and I have been honored to have had the opportunity to meet with these men who fought for the very freedoms we enjoy today,” Roush said. Upon meeting Col. Anderson, Roush was immediately impressed with Anderson’s willingness to be involved with the 50th anniversary of World War II and the 50th anniversary of the USAF becoming an independent branch of service. From that meeting in the mid-1990's, Roush and Anderson’s relationship flourished with a mutual admiration and respect for one another. Both men share many of the same outlooks on life and have shared with one another their exceptional lives. When asked about their relationship, Roush had this to say about the unique bond they share: “With the exception of my father, Col. Anderson has influenced my life more than anyone else. He has been a brother, a friend, and at times a father when advising me about life.”

A Conversation with Colonel Anderson
Clarence “Bud” Anderson arrived in England in the fall of 1943 to find the latest Allied fighter waiting for him. His first opportunity to fly the new Mustang took place on December 19, 1943. With no manuals to read, Anderson was given a brief tour of the cockpit, instructions about take-off, stall, and landing speeds before he was strapped in and cut loose on his first Mustang flight. She was like nothing he had flown back in the states, and compared to the P-39 Airacobra, which Anderson had considered to be the best fighter he had flown to that point, the P-51 Mustang was a Cadillac. Sleek, maneuverable, and fast, the Mustang was the ultimate fighter. Anderson makes no bones when he says, “The P-51 Mustang was the finest fighter aircraft ever produced.”

Anderson had four such thoroughbreds during his two tours in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), and logged more than 480 combat hours. Of the four Mustangs Anderson piloted, three of them were the early B models. “My first Mustang was lost when another pilot was shot down in it during an escort mission.” Anderson received a replacement for that aircraft, which was subsequently destroyed by yet another pilot. The replacement for that aircraft was the famous Old Crow, number 823. Anderson piloted this aircraft throughout his first tour, scoring 13.25 confirmed aerial victories.

"I loved the B model Mustang. It was great at altitude and it was great at low levels,” Anderson said. “The Mustang could out dive anything the Germans had, and was easy to fly.” The biggest drawbacks of the early B model Mustangs were the lack of firepower, and poor visibility. Anderson explains, “Having only four machine guns meant the early Mustangs lacked the punch necessary to bring down the German fighters, while the framework of the birdcage canopy made it very difficult to see outside the airplane, especially looking to the six o’clock position. The D model Mustang improved both of those deficiencies with the use of six machine guns and the development of the bubble canopy.

Anderson’s keen piloting skills and the Mustangs superior maneuverability prevented any German fighter from getting on his tail and staying there. In all of the combat missions Anderson flew, only a small handful of his 16 victories came from actual dogfights. “We would usually bounce them from above, or get one during a head-on pass.” Anderson said. “I only got into three dogfights.” Anderson’s thrilling accounts of combat are told with stirring realism in his book, To Fly and Fight, and have been the subject of many television documentaries. Col. Anderson maintains a wonderful historical website featuring the history of the 357th Fighter Group as well as his accounts of combat during World War II at: cebudanderson.com

Anderson’s successes within the cockpit of the Mustang brought him status within the 357th Fighter Group. Late into Anderson’s first tour, the group was beginning to receive the newest Mustang, the P-51D. His status as flight leader and leading ace in the squadron afforded Anderson the opportunity to receive one of the first few D Model Mustangs to be assigned to his unit in June 1944. Anderson was apprehensive to trade in his B model Mustang for the newer D model, saying, “My B model was running perfectly, the guns were operating flawlessly, and the end of my tour was coming up in early July.”

So Anderson declined to take the D model Mustang. “This B is running so good and it has gotten me here, I am going to keep it.” But, when Anderson volunteered to return for his second tour, most of the group had transitioned over to the D model. “When I returned, there were lots of D models in the group, and my old aircraft had been handed over to Bill Overstreet, as Berlin Express before being sent to Clobber College. The new Mustangs increased firepower and the bubble canopy made the choice a natural one. To this day, Anderson is uncertain what fate became of 823.

Reflections of an Icon from a Legend
In total, Anderson believes he has logged some 750 hours in the Mustang. His association with many Mustang owners has afforded him the opportunity to fly the Mustang again. “It truly has been a great honor, and I feel humbled by the efforts of these dedicated warbird owners.” Anderson said. Anderson has had four different P-51Mustangs painted to represent his Old Crow over the past decades.

When Jack Roush purchased his first D model Mustang, he honored Col. Anderson by painting it in the colors of his final Mustang. The recent sale of that Mustang to Jim Hagedorn made it necessary to have another Old Crow. The completion of the P-51B Mustang has had a profound effect on Anderson. “Obviously, I have been through this emotional ride and excitement of seeing the World War II icon from my life come alive over the past several years,” Anderson said. “Walking out to see the rare B model Mustang with its Malcolm Hood, for the first time, was exhilarating, but frankly I am beginning to feel more like a survivor and a dinosaur at the same time.” Anderson continued.

All of this has been a great honor for Anderson, who believes there are a lot of pilots who would probably give up a body part just to have one of these remarkably restored Mustangs painted like their own World War II aircraft. Summing it all up, Anderson simply says, “How lucky can one be.” As for Roush, his P-51B Mustang, with its unique Malcolm Hood pays tribute to an iconic fighter, and honors the service of a diminishing breed.

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