By Randy Malmstrom
North American P-51C-10-NT, #42-103293, N251MX. This particular aircraft was built in Dallas and has a long history of ownership and rebuilding from parts in various locations, and is now part of the Collings Foundation collection of aircraft. It is being restored as “The Stars Look Down.” When the aircraft was rebuilt in 2002 and 2003, it was built as a tandem-seat TP-51C.
It is painted with code CM-M and nose art “Betty Jane” (Betty was his wife, Jane his daughter) in honor of the then Commanding Officer and P-51B pilot Col. Charles M. “Sandy” McCorkle of the 31st Fighter Group, Fifteenth Air Force, based out of Sicily between July 1943 and July 1944, and was credited with 11 victories in the Mediterranean Theater. He went on to a further distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force until his retirement in 1966. He died in 2009.
The TP-51C was a field modification that added a second seat and dual controls for training purposes. There were several TP-51Cs flown during WWII for training purposes and as a transport aircraft. My photos and YouTube clips below:
Editor’s notes: The aircraft featured in this profile carries the serial number P-51C-1-NT 42-103293, construction number 103-22730, which was delivered to the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group at RAF East Wretham, Norfolk, England. On my 1, 1944, the aircraft crashed 2 miles northeast of RAF Knettishall, Suffolk, England, during a training flight. Pilot Captain Carey H. Brown was killed in the accident.
Since the author saw this aircraft, it has been repainted as “The Stars Look Down“, a P-51B-5 Mustang, serial number 43-6877, which was assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force. After suffering a ground loop at RAF Lashenden, Kent, England, on May 27, 1944, the aircraft was modified to become a two-seater by the 461st Service Squadron. On July 4, 1944, P-51B 43-6877 was used to fly the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Dwight Eisenhower, over the frontlines of Normandy. Afterwards, the aircraft was named “The Stars Look Down“.
About the author: Randy Malmstrom grew up in a family steeped in aviation culture. His father, Bob, was still a cadet in training with the USAAF at the end of WWII, but did serve in Germany during the U.S. occupation in the immediate post-war period, where he had the opportunity to fly in a wide variety of types that flew in WWII. After returning to the States, Bob became a multi-engine aircraft sales manager and, as such, flew a wide variety of aircraft; Randy frequently accompanied him on these flights. Furthermore, Randyโs cousin, Einar Axel Malmstrom, flew P-47 Thunderbolts with the 356th FG from RAF Martlesham Heath. He was commanding this unit at the time he was shot down over France on April 24th, 1944, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. Following his repatriation at warโs end, Einar continued his military service, attaining the rank of Colonel. He was serving as Deputy Wing Commander of the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB, MT, at the time of his death in a T-33 training accident on August 21, 1954. The base was renamed in his honor in October 1955 and continues to serve in the present USAF as home to the 341st Missile Wing. Randyโs innate interest in history in general, and aviation history in particular, plus his educational background and passion for WWII warbirds, led him down his current path of capturing detailed aircraft walk-around photos and in-depth airframe histories, recording a precise description of a particular aircraft in all aspects.
