P-51C, "TUSKEGEE Airmen", was manufactured by North American Aviation in Dallas, Texas and delivered to the US Army Air Corps on 7 April, 1944. It is of interest to note that the only difference between the "B' and "C' model P51s was point of origin. The "B" model was built in Inglewood, California while the "C" model was built in Dallas, Texas.

In order to represent all those associated with the Tuskegee experience the aircraft has been painted with markings from each of the fighter squadrons. The letter "A" was a designation for the 99th Fighter Squadron. The yellow bands on the end of the wing were a scheme associated with the 101st Fighter Squadron. The number 42 was the series of numbers denoting the 301st Fighter Squadron. The yellow trim tabs and red and yellow nose strips were paint schemes from the 302nd Fighter Squadron. The decals from the bomber squadrons are displayed on the fuselage.

Since the conversion to the advanced, bubble canopy, "D" model had already begun in February, 1944 at the Inglewood facility, it is probable that was one of the last "Razorback" Mustangs built in Dallas as that factory began producing "D" models shortly thereafter in July, 1944.

Although there are no official records to substantiate this assumption, it is conceivable that the decision was made to concentrate on providing combat squadrons with the new "D" while relegating the last of the "C' models to less rigorous requirements. There were approximately 886 "C" models made before the production line was converted to the new "D" model.

In any event, that was the fate of when it received it's first assignment to the 341st AAF Base Unit (Third Air Force), Pinellas AAF, Florida. In December, 1944 it was transferred to the 378th AAF Base (Third Air Force) Venice AAF, Florida, and then in June, 1945 moved to the 339th AAF Base Unit (Third Air Force) Thomasville AAF, Georgia.

With the cessation of hostilities in August of 1945, was declared surplus of the USAAF, was dropped from inventory in October, 1945 and soon thereafter (September, 1945) made its last flight, prior to a 56 year slumber, to Montana State College in Bozeman, Montana. During this idyllic sojourn it undoubtedly provided a hands on experience for a host of aspiring aviation technicians during its "College Days" at Montana State. But the tranquility of Campus Life came to an abrupt end when, in order to expedite its next move, for some obscure reason, the wings were sawed off! After a cosmetic reattachment of same by, believe it or not; welding, the future Red Tail Project was destined to serve out its remaining days as a building ornament for a local VFW.

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CAF records indicate that P-51C was donated to the CAF sometime during 1970 when application for FAA registration number N51CAF was requested on 2 November, 1970. The majority of the aircraft was transferred from Montana to Texas where it awaited its share of scarce resources for restoration. While there it unfortunately was given a rather thorough salt water bath by Hurricane Beulah which began its insidious corrosion attack on what had once been a relatively pristine structure.

In early 1974 Mssrs Randy Sohn and Jack Sandberg joined forces to restore the increasingly neglected conglomeration of parts to not only flyable condition but, presumably raceable condition since the late Mr. Sandberg was increasingly involved in the Reno Air Races. Racing was not in this airplanes future, however and after languishing in Minneapolis during which little progress was made on its restoration, the aircraft was once again sent back to Harlingen, Texas.

The next migration, in October, 1983, was to Council Bluffs, Iowa under the stewardship of the Great Plains Wing of the CAF. Once again the all too familiar combination of abundant enthusiasm was tempered with the reality of limited resources and skills as the passive pile of parts of our beloved P51C once again lay dormant awaiting patiently its protracted salvation.

Finally, with the eminent completion of "Miss Mitchell" the So. Minnesota Wing's B-25 restoration, the prospect of a P-51C project was enthusiastically received by wing members, several of whom has previous experience with Mustangs either on active duty or in the Minnesota National Guard. Transfer from Council Bluffs, IA to So. St. Paul MN was accomplished in 1988, but once again was assigned to "Back Burner" status as the wing dealt with aggravating teething problems associated with getting "Miss Mitchell" on line. These setbacks consumed not only time and effort but the limited monetary resources of the wing.

Nevertheless, during this hiatus in the ultimate restoration, The Red Tail Project concept was born. The decision was made to paint this rare aircraft in the distinctive colors of the Tuskegee Airmen and, in so doing, honor these long neglected heroes who, during World War II, accomplished a Double Victory; one over nazism and the other over racism. The importance and justification of this decision was ratified by the Minnesota Legislature with a substantial monetary grant towards its ultimate completion.

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Consequently, arrangements were soon made for the total rebuilding of the wings by the well known talents of Bob Odegaard at his shop in Kindred, N.D. As with anything that emerges from the Odegaard shop, the new wings were masterpieces of craftsmanship as good as, if not better than, the original NAA factory efforts. Close inspection of the fuselage of "The Red Tail Project" however, revealed that Hurricane Beulah's salt water bath had indeed done more damage than had originally been determined and that a complete reconstruction of the very core of the aircraft was the only realistic solution. For this, the CAF turned to the extraordinary abilities of Jerry Beck at Tri State Aviation in Wapeton, N.D. Jerry was to not only virtually remanufacture the fuselage, but was responsible for the final assembly and completion of the aircraft which was accomplished with the enthusiastic help and pride of his band of talented artisans. The aircraft was completely dismantled and every rivet was removed during it's restoration. The aircraft was then reassembled with new sheet metal and structural components replacing any that were corroded or damaged.

The return of this beautiful aircraft to its natural element is only the first stage of the Red Tail Project. It is the honor of the So. Minnesota Wing to simultaneously publicize the shamefully ignored story of the Tuskegee Airmen, and in so doing, use it as tangible evidence that seemingly insurmountable odds can be overcome with boundless determination and enthusiasm.

As such, the ultimate goal of the Red Tail Project is to inspire the youth of American to overcome the perceived barriers to success that confront us all and fix their eyes on the star of their choosing.

In order to represent all those associated with the Tuskegee experience the aircraft has been painted with markings from each of the fighter squadrons. The letter "A" was a designation for the 99th Fighter Squadron. The yellow bands on the end of the wing were a scheme associated with the 101st Fighter Squadron. The number 42 was the series of numbers denoting the 301st Fighter Squadron. The yellow trim tabs and red and yellow nose strips were paint schemes from the 302nd Fighter Squadron. The decals from the bomber squadrons are displayed on the fuselage.

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