Hundreds—possibly thousands—of books have been written about the P-51 Mustang. Most focus on specific airframes, general information about the aircraft, or its military history. However, there is one book—or rather, a series of books—that covers the history of civilian-owned Mustangs. Anyone who has spent time reading about or flipping through magazines featuring Mustangs has likely encountered the name Dick Phillips or seen his photographs. Before his passing in 2020, he was regarded as the foremost expert on civilian P-51s. Fortunately, his life’s work lives on in The Last of the Wild Horses, a book that preserves his extensive research for all to see.
A Passion for Mustangs
Dick was born in Lake Forest, Illinois (just north of Chicago). After serving in the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Air Command (SAC), he returned to Lake Forest and enrolled in a photography school. While his family had always been in the railroad business, Dick found himself working at O’Hare International Airport for an aviation company. While driving past Palwaukee Airport (now Chicago Executive Airport), one day, he spotted a Mustang tied down in the grass just off the taxiway. Like many kids who grew up during World War II, he had read numerous stories about these legendary aircraft and built model kits, so he immediately recognized it. He pulled into the airport and photographed the aircraft, N6301T. The next day, he passed by again and saw another Mustang parked beside it—so he photographed that one as well. That day at work, he mentioned his excitement to one of the company’s pilots, Tom, who responded, “Well, I know where there’s another one—in my hangar. I own one.” Later that day, Dick saw Tom’s Mustang, marking the beginning of a lifelong mission.
The Birth of a Legacy
It was 1966 when Dick decided to document all privately owned Mustangs. Little did he know that the number would eventually approach 450. By the 1970s, now working for an airline, he had the ability to travel to airshows and photograph Mustangs across the country. He quickly amassed an extensive collection of photos and information. In today’s digital world, sharing such data with fellow Mustang enthusiasts would take mere seconds, but in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was a different challenge altogether.
Dick devised an innovative solution—he created a three-ring binder with a dedicated page for each Mustang, then mailed it to other historians. They could add information, insert pages if needed, and send it on to the next person on the list, forming what was essentially a giant chain letter. It took years for the binder to make its way back to Dick, but when it did, his reputation as Mr. Mustang was firmly established. His massive collection of Mustang photos and documents, possibly the largest of its kind, is now in the possession of his son, Mark Phillips.
A Book Years in the Making
Recognizing the sheer scope of the project, Dick partnered with fellow Mustang historian and photographer John Dienst, as well as Leif Hellström, who had written a book on Swedish Mustangs. Together, they worked toward publishing the definitive guide on civilian P-51s. However, before they could finalize the book, the partnership dissolved due to differences in writing style, book size, and financial considerations.
A Family Legacy Continues
Mark Phillips grew up immersed in aviation and photography, often attending airshows with his father. He became an accomplished photographer in his own right, following in Dick’s footsteps. Around 2016, after Dick suffered a series of strokes, he entrusted Mark with completing what had become his life’s work. Mark had studied at the University of North Dakota to become a pilot and air traffic controller—not a writer. But following Dick’s passing in 2020, he took on the monumental task of finalizing the book while balancing his career as an A&P mechanic and warbird restorer. Initially, Mark reached out to Dienst to collaborate, but it soon became clear that the book would exceed 1,000 pages. To streamline the project, some sections had to be removed. He first eliminated a reference section that cross-referenced serial numbers with registration numbers and owners. This brought the length down to 800 pages. Then, he removed a section detailing every Mustang preserved in non-flying museum displays, reducing the book to approximately 600 pages. These omitted sections would later become separate books authored by Mark.
The Final Product
The Last of the Wild Horses – North American P-51 Type Aircraft on the Civil Registries of the World 1946-2023 was finally released in early 2024. The book contains individual histories of every Mustang ever held in civilian hands, featuring more than 3,000 photographs—many never before published. It also includes personal interest stories, type information, and much more. Truly one of a kind, the book has been widely praised for its depth and detail. Mark plans to release a second edition in the future, as the status of these aircraft is constantly changing. Additionally, he intends to create a section on the book’s website where owners will have access to additional photos and updated information. For more details, visit: www.thelastofthewildhorses.com.
