In February, we announced the acquisition of the iconic P-51D Mustang Moonbeam McSwine by FlyaSpitfire.com. Yesterday, the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar welcomed its newest addition as Moonbeam McSwine arrived after transport. This historic 1944 Mustang will soon join the fleet of two-seat Spitfires, offering passenger flight experiences with FlyaSpitfire.com.
Biggin Hill engineering team spent the day unpacking the container and carefully assembling the aircraft. Below are some images from the unloading process—stay tuned for more updates on the reassembly! Follow the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Facebook page for the latest progress as Moonbeam McSwine prepares to take to the skies once again.
A Storied History
Built in October 1944 at the Inglewood plant in Los Angeles, Moonbeam McSwine was accepted into U.S. Army Air Forces service in March 1945 and shipped to England for duty with the 8th Air Force. It later returned to the U.S., where it served with multiple fighter squadrons, including the 182nd, 136th, 120th, and 109th, before being placed into storage at McClellan Air Force Base in December 1956. In August 1958, the aircraft was sold as surplus for just $1,307.50 and later restored in 1963 by Cavalier Aircraft in Texas. It went on to serve with the El Salvador Air Force, flying combat missions during the 1968–1974 conflict with Honduras. After the war, the Mustang was restored in 1975 in its now-iconic Moonbeam McSwine livery.
(Source: US National Archives)
In 1981, the aircraft was acquired by renowned warbird pilot Vlado Lenoch, who flew it in the USAF Heritage Flight Program and at the Reno Air Races in 1997, 1999, and 2000. It was later sold to Frederic Akary in 2012 and relocated to France before returning to the U.S. in 2018 to join the Warbird Heritage Foundation in Illinois. Now, following its acquisition by Warbird Experiences Ltd / The Spitfire Company in November 2024, Moonbeam McSwine is set for a new chapter—offering aviation enthusiasts the chance to experience firsthand the thrill of flying in one of history’s most legendary fighter aircraft.
Further updates will be shared as the Mustang is reassembled at Biggin Hill. Stay tuned for more details, and visit www.flyaspitfire.com for flight experience bookings.
