Photograph by Paul Cremin on 27 June 2026 at the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight Air Show, taken with a Canon EOS 7D Mk II and a Canon 100–400mm zoom lens, f10, 1/200 sec, ISO 100.
North American P-51D Mustang 'Frances Dell' (9597) was manufactured at the North American Aviation (NAA) factory in Inglewood, California. Initially, it was stored by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and remained unused until 1950. It was not until 8 November 1950 that the aircraft was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where it was given the military designation 9597.
The history of the P-51D Mustang 'Frances Dell' began in 1944 when it was manufactured at the North American Aviation (NAA) factory in Inglewood, California. Initially, it was stored by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and remained unused until 1950. It was not until 8 November 1950, that the aircraft was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where it was given the military designation 9597.
After completing its military service in 1959, the aircraft was registered as a civilian plane in 1960, initially under the registration N9150R and later as N1335. On 17 March 1963, the P-51 crashed near Indianapolis. In 1970, the FAA revoked its registration due to a "lack of activity reports." Bill Destefani acquired the project in 1981 and began the Mustang’s restoration that same year. After years of restoration, the aircraft was assigned the civilian registration C-GJCJ in 1987. In 1989, the Mustang found a new owner when it was operated under the name "Glamorous Gal" by James Priebe.
On 15 October 2011, the aircraft was damaged during a landing when the right landing gear collapsed while rolling out, causing significant damage to the landing gear, the right wing, the propeller, and the engine. In 2012, the aircraft’s repairs began after it was sold to Carl Patrick and CP Air LLC in Broomfield, Colorado. There, the P-51D was named 'Frances Dell' and subsequently restored by Midwest Aero.
The P-51D was painted in the checkerboard pattern of the 84th Fighter Squadron and modeled after the aircraft flown by Lt. Clark Clemons. During World War II, the 84th Fighter Squadron was stationed at the historic Duxford airfield, conducting missions across Europe.
After the restoration was completed, the Mustang took to the skies again for the first time under the name „Frances Dell“ on 30 October 2014. In July 2019, it received the award for the „Best Restored P-51 Mustang“ at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, demonstrating its exceptional restoration and high quality.
In March 2020, 'Frances Dell' was ultimately acquired by Flying Legends GmbH, where it continues to be showcased under this name.
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