"By ReQuest" as flown by Col. B.O. Davis of the 332nd FG parked during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The Red Tails flown by Tuskegee Airmen had an impressive combat record. Built at Dallas, this P-51C was delivered to the USAAF as 42-103645. It served as a trainer in Florida during WW2. Declared surplus in 1945, the aircraft was bought for $1 by Montana State College. In June 1965 it was auctioned off by the college and stored in a junkyard, later being donated to the CAF. The Mustang flew on 10 May 2001 after restoration. It crashed in 2004, resulting in a rebuild to fly again in 2009.

Making a low pass over the performance area. Originally built as P-51C-5-NT 42-103645.

Wartime P-51C 42-103645 was struck off strength in 1945 and was acquired by the Montana State College in Bozeman, MT as an instructional airframe. Moved via road (the wings beyond the main landing gear had been removed) in 1965 to a VFW Post in Billings MT. Acquired by the Confederate Air Force in 1973, the fighter would be restored to flying condition by 2001. Pictured as one of 18 P-51s taxiing out for display, it was inspiring to see and hear all of them pause and run the RR Merlin engines up for a couple of minutes for the crowd before resuming their taxi for take-off.

I believe that the passenger is the son of a Tuskegee airman

Many thanks to the really nice lady at the Tuskegee Airmen trailer stand who confessed that the previous evening she had forgotten to put on 'By ReQuests nightcap. Lucky for me! Photographed just after daybreak before a super day at the Wings over Houston air show 2011.

The Red Tail Project P-51 of the Commemorative Air Force is pictured in front of the trailer dedicated to making people aware of the 'Tuskagee Airmen': honouring their accomplishments and preserving the history of the first African-American pilots in the USAF.