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The North American P-51 Mustang
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P-51 Who?   Case # 17
44-73140     N169MD     Closed
Solved by: Dan Martin, Dan Johnson, Jim Church, Mark Huismann
P-51 Who 17
Case#: 17
Date: May 01 1999
By:
Photo:
unknown photo date/place
Status: Closed
Serial: 44-73140
Registry: N169MD
P-51 Who? Viewer Responses
Dan Martin
05/29/1999 20:12
Tangerine was owned by the late burns Byrum, MD. I suspect the photo was taken somewhere in Iowa.
Dan Johnson
05/30/1999 07:55
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 P-51 "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
05/30/1999 22:06
"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
06/02/1999 05:11
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.
Bill Pheiffer
12/11/2009 11:00
The "TANGERINE" C5- E, was originally my Dad's P 51 Mustang in WWII, with the 357th. His name was Henry A. (Hank) Pfeiffer.
Tim
09/18/2010 13:25
In 1973-74 I used to see Tangerine at the Iowa City, Iowa airport.
Pat Flanagan
09/18/2010 15:28
Doc was a family friend of mine. I grew up in Marengo and this was the first plane I ever rode in as a kid when Doc added a 2nd seat. I think he won the 72 Reno air race in this plane.....Great memories and has made me a life long mustang lover.
David Garrelts
01/16/2011 15:31
I was good friends with someone that worked the flight line in Iowa City. He knew the doctor very well. The plane was flying out of Denver in the clouds, and the doctor smelled burnt kerosene. It turns out he was catching up to a 727.
Richard Conti
06/03/2013 20:34
Message to Bill,
I was fortunate to meet Hank Pfeifer in 1973 at Kaiser Steel. And again in 1984 at California Steel. A true gentlemen and a great person.

It was truly an honor,

Sheldon Thompson
03/17/2014 20:03
I never had the chance to meet any of the owners of the tangerine or see the plane in person. I did have however have the chance to own the A bank cylinder head off of one of her engines.
I found it in a corn crib near Ladora Ia and purchased it from the gentleman who received it from one of docs family members after his death as he was one of docs friends. It was manufactured by acme,and in very serviceable shape with little rework required.
It is now owned by central cylinder service in omaha.
Caroll Daringer
07/15/2014 11:50
Doc was a friend , also my flight dr. I road many times in the back seat of that p-51. Once flying out of Des Moines with a dentist, the engine twisted therop shaft. engine quit, 3000 ft, Dentist jumped Doc road her down. It was just after dark. not hurt
Neil Burroughs
08/21/2014 23:08
I took my private pilot's license through AFROTC at Iowa City in 1972. Tangerine was in a hangar there at the time. It's the only Mustang I've ever seen close up. Some of the information above is news to me, although I do remember reading about the crash that destroyed it at the time. I seem to recall Dr. Byrum's obit as well, but I couldn't recall his name 42 years later.
Nancy Fry
04/22/2015 09:33
Sheldon Thompson, you probably bought that cylinder head from my father, Dr. David G. Fry, who owned a farm outside Ladora in the time frame you mentioned. My dad was also the dentist who Caroll Daringer mentioned as having crashed with Dr. Byram in 1967. My dad and Doc Byram were great flying buddies back in the day. I have been interested in P-51 Mustangs ever since my childhood because of my dad and Doc Byram. Doc Byram died in Mexico in 1978 doing what he loved - flying a P-51 back to the states.
alex dahlesid
08/22/2015 22:52
john meyer p-51d
Sheldon Thompson
09/16/2015 21:02
Nancy Fry,I wish it would have been your dad,but sad to say it wasnt,it was Max Herman.
He needed a starting handle for an old associated hit-n-miss engine he had,I happened to have one,and a deal was struck from there.
I sure would enjoy finding more parts of that engine as I am an aviation nut,and like finding pieces of history like that,especially when it involves a fellow Iowan,really,really wish I could have met doc and the other owners.
I know its a child like dream especially since the hey day of flying has long passed in Iowa,but would still be thrilled to find any airplane in an old barn waiting for me to restore it,and at 52,yes,I still dream.
Judy Ann Skarda-Wright
11/26/2015 00:43
I am really thankful to finally learn what happened to "my name sake" P-51, "Judy Ann"! My father was a Navy pilot in WWII, and years later, a member of the Confederate Airforce. He had a magazine one time that had a picture of this P-51 with her name, "Judy Ann".....I thought it was really a great thing I had a plane "named after" me....hahahahahah! Over the years, I have often thought of that little plane, and I have looked for what ever happened to her.....my brother (a corporate pilot) told me he had heard the little plane had crashed.....I really didnt want to believe it.....but I guess "my" P-51 "Judy Ann, has indeed met her demise!
I was hoping that picture above was when she was named "Judy Ann"....but I cant make the name out on the nose.... If anyone knows where I can get a picture of that little warrior from WWII, with the name Judy Ann on her nose, I would love to know where I can get one!
Judy Ann Skarda-Wright
nick goth
12/21/2017 03:07
I saw the Mustang named Tangerine back in August/September 87 when i was in my teens in London. The bird was in a big Victorian building in the middle of London in a war museum. Also there was a Storch and a 190. Was so awesome. And AA guns and vehicles. how the hell did they get the planes inside hehe. Was dark atmosphere so my photos were junk. The idiots who put the kit in there had no planning permission so i heard. Go figure. The museum shut. Unsure of location or name. Was awesome. I love mustangs...
Rick Sawyer
01/10/2018 21:14
I knew Doc well, and flew with him on occasions. I also owned a B-25J N2849G. I kept this Mitchell at the east T-hangars in Cedar Rapids, Ia. next to Doc. In 1980, I flew my Mitchell to OshKosh with Doc off my wing. Near Rockford Il, the right engine failed and had to make an emergency landing at Rockford. We were sitting on the ground there, me covered in engine oil and a filter plugged with filings, while Doc laid on the wing of his mustang. He said "get used to this because if you have time to spare, fly warbird air".
One of the saddest day in my life was his funeral in Marengo. The warbird flyover brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful individual he was.
Richard Sawyer
01/14/2018 18:01
My apologies, it was 1977 that Doc and I made the trip to OsKosh.
Jeff Sherman
11/05/2018 10:24
Knew Dr. Byrum's son Butch , we stopped at the hanger in Iowa City one night Doc and the mechanic had the engine out, quite impressed with that V12.
Eric Herrmann
03/27/2019 09:39
My Dad Max Herrmann is gone now. I have a lot of Docs items, some of them are at the Iowa County Museum in Marengo.
Kelly Fitzgerald
11/18/2021 18:00
My mom and dad both worked with Doc in Marengo. My brother used to mow his yard. I was too young to remember much about him personally, but definitely remember Tangerine. My dad would fly to Canada fishing with Doc.
I can still hear the sound of that beautiful plane flying over Marengo.
Mark Janowiecki
02/04/2023 13:08
Back I think around 1966 my dad took me to an airshow and I have a 8 x 10 color glossy print of this tangerine P 51 on the ground running with a pilot in it and it’s got the playboy bunny on the tail matches the description. If anybody wants his picture reach out and I’ll send it to you. Thanks. Text me 517 518-4929
Gareth Collins
02/24/2023 18:41
Bill Pheiffer if you read this I have a wonderful oil painting of 'Tangerine' my Grandfather painted in the 70's above a B17 formation I would be happy to share with you. Many thanks
Case Closed!
P-51 Mustang

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