North American P-51D Mustang G-SHWN 44-73877 'The Shark' Norwegian Spitfire Foundation

North American P-51D Mustang 44-73877 ‘The Shark’ | Norwegian Spitfire Foundation

North American P-51D Mustang G-SHWN 'The Shark'

Duxford Battle of Britain 2019 practise

STATUS: Airworthy
LOCATION: North Weald
OWNER:Norwegian Spitfire Foundation
ROLE: Fighter
BUILT: 1944
LENGTH: 9.83 m\32 ft 3 in
WINGSPAN: 11.28 m\37 ft 0 in
ENGINE: Rolls Royce Merlin
MAXIMUM SPEED: 440 mph\708 km/h
RANGE: 1,650 mi \2,656 km

Manufactured in 1944 for the United States Army Air Force and registered as military serial number 44-73877, North American P-51D Mustang G-SHWN did not see combat action during WWII. During 1951 she was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force where she served until 1958. From 1958 to 1980 the aeroplane was flown by various private owners. After an extensive rebuild from 1980 to 1985 she was registered N167F and bore the ‘Old Crow’ colour scheme of Col. Clarence Anderson who’s signature remains on the left undercarriage door panel.

In 2012 she was purchased by a UK owner and delivered to the UK in August that year. Since then the aeroplane has been overhauled and refitted and is now in the colour scheme of Lt. Blanchford, RAF 112 Squadron which operated from Italy in 1945 on ground attack missions over the Balkans and along the Adriatic coast.