USAAF
5th AF
71st TRG
87nd TRS

David Gillis 1969

T. Andrews 1994

Justin Taylan 2003

Justin Taylan 2004
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Former Pilot Lt Peter
A. McDermott
Crew Chief James W. O'Mara
Armor Sgt. John
M. Conway
Aircraft History
On the left side of the cockpit was painted the pilot's name: 'Peter A. McDermott' and nine bomb
Wartime History
Regular pilot was McDermott. At the end of the war, this aircraft was abandoned at Tadji.
Recovery
Recovered by Charles Darby and Monty Armstrong from Tadji in 1974 during
the salvage operation for Yesterday's
Air Force (MARC), and was
kept by Armstrong and stored in Auckland, from 1974-1976.
Storage and Display Restoration & Resold
Sold to the Australian Aerospace Museum,
Melbourne, Victoria where it was restored to static display as "Brooklyn
Bum 2nd" from 1982-1988. Then, it went to Air
World, Wangaratta.
Export to United States
Next, the aircraft was sold
to Don Whittington in Florida, who owned it from 1989 - 1991. Then,
it was sold to the Santa Monica Museum of Flying where
it was displayed from 1992 - 1994. When that museum disbanded, it was
sold to The Fighter
Collection,
but first sent to the Fighter Rebuilders / Planes of Fame for restoration to airworthy condition. At Fighter
rebuilders, it was under restoration from 1994 - 2004.
First Flight
The aircraft preformed engine tests and its first flight on June 18,
2004 at Chino airport, while the restoration staff at Fighter Rebuilders
watched their project in the air for the first time, flown by Steve
Hinton. Exported to The Fighter
Collection in England.
References
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 57 (upper)
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P-39
First Flight
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