Dan Martin had the answer in my mailbox right after the picture was posted on the web.

Dan Johnson:

I remember seeing that Mustang back in the 70s at Jack Sandburg's hanger in Crystal Minnesota when I was about 17. It was Dr. Burns Byram's P51 "Tangerine" flying out of Iowa. Former RCAF P51 9567. AF serial 44-73140 If the serial number is correct, that makes it Petie 2nd now flying with Warbirds of Great Britain according to [the] list of survivors.

Jim Church adds:

"Tangerine" is s/n 44-73140, c/n 122-39599. This aircraft has a very extensive civilian history, dating back to when it was surplused from the RCAF (Where it had served as RCAF 9567) in 1960. The first owners were James Defuria and Fred Witts, to whom the aircraft was registered as N6337T. It then went through a succession of owners before it wound up in the hands of the late Dr. Burns Byram in 1967, who changed the registration to N169MD. It was at this time that it was painted as "Tangerine." The name was later changed to "Judy Ann," along with the registration, which became N51N. In 1978, Dr. Byram was killed in Mexico while ferrying an ex Guatemalan Mustang back (N52HA) to the US The registration was then changed to NL51N, and it was painted overall silver, with invasion stripes and black and white checkers on the nose and rudder, by its new owner, Charles Ventors. The Mustang was then sold to Carl Bradley, of the Canadian Warplane Heritage, in 1982. The Mustang was repainted in 424 "City of Hamilton" squadron RCAF markings, with the codes BA-U applied. This was reflected in the Canadian registration it now wore, CF-BAU. The Mustang was virtually destroyed in a landing accident on a small country road after suffering an engine failure in 1984. Bradley and his passenger survived, but the Mustang was consumed by a post crash fire. The identity of this Mustang was later used in a new Mustang rebuild performed by Pioneer Aero, of Chino, California, who built the aircraft up for the late Doug Arnold of Warbirds of Great Briton. This aircraft was painted in the famous markings of Eighth Air Force, 352nd FG ace John C. Meyer, as "Petie 2nd," and it was given the registration N314BG. The Aircraft went to England after completion, but since Doug Arnold's death, it has been operated by his son David under the banner "Flying 'A' Services."

Mark Huismann adds:

This mustang was owned by a man named Burns Byram. He was affectionately known as "Doc" to all his friends. This mustang also featured a Playboy bunny head on the tail. (not visible in this picture)Doc was from Marengo, Iowa and was a fixture at airshows during the 70's. Previously, Doc had the mustang in a civilian paint scheme. (black, white and gold) Sadly, Doc was killed in an accident while he was ferrying another mustang back from South America for Lynn Florey.


Great Job! Thanks to all of you for this information.