Lot 60
The Galloping Ghost was built by North American Aviation as a P-51D-15-NA, Army Air Force serial number 44-15651, at the NAA's Inglewood, California, plant for military use during World War II. Once the aircraft was delivered, it was transferred to Walnut Ridge Army Air Field in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. It was later classified as surplus stock and offered to the public for around $3,500 ($46,600 today). Around that time, Steve Beville and Bruce Raymond were looking to compete in the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio, that were to be held in September. Beville was able to secure the aircraft from the WAA on July 22, 1946, even though P-51 sales at Walnut Ridge Army Air Field had formally ended. Thus, the aircraft was the last to be sold to the public. Beville and Raymond registered the plane as NX79111 and named it The Galloping Ghost after football star Red Grange. Raymond piloted the aircraft in its first race, the 1946 Thompson Trophy, the first since 1939, when World War II suspended the annual event. Raymond took fourth place on the closed-course track, winning $3,000. The following year, Beville piloted the aircraft in the Kendall Trophy race. He broke the record for fastest closed-course speed on August 31, 1947, with 384.6 miles per hour (619 km/h), breaking the record of 601.7 km/h (374 mph) set by Alvin "Tex" Johnson in the Thompson Trophy race the previous year, winning $2,500. Beville also raced for the 1947 Thompson Trophy, taking fourth. Bruce Raymond and Steve Beville began seriously thinking about buying a Mustang and entering it in the post-war Cleveland National Air Races. Raymond and Beville were fast friends long before they both went off to serve as ferry pilots during War World II. Occasionally, the two would meet at various bases along the Atlantic ferry route and it was during one of these meetings that the idea was born to compete in the post-war Bendix and Thompson Trophy Races. Beville had flown most of the American fighters and he suggested buying a Lockheed P-38 Lightning for cross country racing and a P-51 Mustang for the closed-course pylon events. In March 1946, Beville, who was still in the Air Force, stopped by the War Assets Administration (WAA) office in Washington, DC and inquired about purchasing a surplus Mustang. Please ask specific questions on details, condition, and shipping prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, and the bidder will be responsible for payment. We box and ship what we can to keep costs low, and use USPS and UPS. Large items, extremely fragile, and high value items will be packed by UPS. Quotes available on request
- Dimensions: 3.75" x 6.5"
- Condition: Excellent Condition
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $49 | $5 |
| $50 | $99 | $5 |
| $100 | $199 | $10 |
| $200 | $499 | $25 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 + | $250 |