Bill Eaton: This is Bill "Tiger" Destefani's "Mangia Pane" racer circa-1980. BTW--Photo appears to be Reno, east end of the main runway 8-26, late afternoon.
44-74494:
RCAF 1950-60 - N6313T, James Defuria, 1960 - N6356T, (numerous owners*), 1961-79 - N72FT, Bill Destefani, 1979-87, Race 72 "Mangia Pane" - N72FT, Vintage Aircraft Inc, Mountain View CA, 1987- (flies as "411661/Iron Ass") [Hugh Bickle]

*Benjamin Peck, Charles Masefield, Ed Jurist, Wally McDonnell, Bill Destefani


Mark Moodie: Bill Destefani's N6356T ? Mangia Pane, Later became N72FT. Picture taken shortly after Reno 1980.


William Yoak: This is the former Mangia Pane when owned by Bill Destefani and raced by Ron Hevle in 1980 and 1981 at Reno. Destefani raced it himself in '82 after Hevle moved up into Dago Red. The aircraft has been owned by Hugh Bickle for the last several years and is based in Hollister, CA. It has a different WWII paint scheme and is called :"Iron Ass".


Jim Pera: This is Bill Destefani's "Mangia Pane" before it was painted.


Brad Haskin: The subject is N72FT, "Mangia Pane" at the Reno Air Races in 1980 (rookie year). Owned by Bill "Tiger" Destefani and flown by Ron Hevle, this is what she looked like prior to the more common silver, yellow, and black livery she had for the next several years.

This plane also raced in the Kings Cup race in 1967 in England, before coming across "the pond". Currently owned and flown by Hugh Bickle as "Iron Ass".