Mustang Day At Nut Tree Airport
By Jim Dunn
Representing the Navy fighter aircraft of World War II is Tom Camp’s General Motors built FM-2. Flown at the event by Brain Sanders, the FM-2 Wildcat was the final production version of the Grumman F4F that carried much of the fighting in some of the most difficult early days in the Pacific. (Jim Dunn)On Oct. 9, under a bright-blue California sky the Travis AFB Air Museum, in association with Solano County/Nut Tree Airport, held the second edition of Mustang Day. The event featured examples of both the famous World War II North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft and the Ford Motor Company’s popular “Pony” car, the Ford Mustang.
This year, there were a total of five P-51 Mustangs on the ramp for visitors to see close-up. These Mustangs included: Bob Button’s highly modified Reno air racer Voodoo; Ted Contri’s P-51D Rosalie; Terry Tarditi’s P-51D Comfortably Numb; Michael Coutches modified P-51D; and the Nut Tree-based P-51D Sparky, owned by Steve Seghetti.
A number of other warbirds, classic civilians, and aerobatic aircraft were also on display. The World War II warbirds highlighted the training aircraft that a young pilot would have to master before taking the controls of a Mustang. These included the Primary Trainer PT-17 Stearman Kaydet; the Basic Trainer BT-13 Vultee Valiant; and the Advanced Trainer AT-6 North American Texan.
Ted Contri at the controls of his P-51D ‘Rosalie’, one of two Mustungs that he owns that are based at Carson City, Nevada. The aircraft carries markings to salute the 192nd Fighter Squadron that flew P-51Ds with the Nevada ANG from 1948 to 1955. (Jim Dunn)Along with the planes and cars, there were also more than 25 vendors offering everything from great food to arts and crafts. And to make this an event that the entire family can afford, the admission was free, with only a $5 per car charge for parking. Also, much of the proceeds went to help fund the building program for the Travis AFB James H. Doolittle Aviation Museum.
Future plans for this event will see it showcase other famous World War II aircraft. It is scheduled to be held at the Nut Tree Airport each year when Travis AFB doesn’t have an air show on its schedule.
Author’s Note: Thanks to Larry Smigla, and photo plane pilots Mike DeCastro and Jerry Anderson.
