Dates

Event

25 April 1944

Constructed as a P-51C-5-NT by North American at Dallas, Texas, USA.

Circa May 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-103757.

19 February 1946

To Paul Mantz, Burbank, CA.
Markings added: Bequine
Just one of 475 war surplus airplanes purchased in a single lot by Mantz.

21 July 1947

To Frank J. Abel, 3101 Sherwood Lane, Wichita Falls, Texas, with new c/r N4845N.

1948

Photographer: Dustin W. Carter Collection
Notes: It was a long time before it was more widely known that the Beguine was suppose to be racing at Cleveland in 1948. Paul Penny Penrose was suppose to be the pilot. It was decided to let another pilot ferry it to Cleveland. The airplane ran out fuel and was bellied in a farmers field. Of course it did not make it to Cleveland and Paul Penrose was dismissed as the pilot. Dusty Carter gave me a copy of this photo for helping print photos for the Mustang book for him just before he passed away. You can easily identify it as 1948 by the cuffless Hamilton Standard prop and painted spinner.

20 July 1948

To J D Reed Co Inc, Houston, TX keeping c/r N4845N.

From 3 September 1949 to 5 September 1949

Raced as #7, named Beguine.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the SOHIO class. The primary pilot was William Odom. Qualified in 2nd place with an average speed of 405.565 mph. Raced in the B Feature race. Finished in 1st place with an average speed of 388.393 mph.

From 3 September 1949 to 5 September 1949

Raced as #7, named Beguine.
Competed at the National Air Races Cleveland in the Thompson Trophy Reciprocating Division race. The primary pilot was William Odom. Qualified in 3rd place with an average speed of 405.565 mph. Started the B Feature race, but did not finish. Crashed on the second lap after a high-speed stall. Mr. Odom perished in the crash.

1949

Photographer: Peter Bowers
Notes: Bill Odom and the Beguine at the 1949 Cleveland Air Races.

1949

Photographer: Bailey Studios
Notes: It was through this photograph that I met one of my greatest friends and mentor. That would be the late Oliver Aldrich from Houston,Texas. Ollie had a love affair with both Beguine and J.D. Reed. He had 8 X 10 copies of this photo that he was selling for a very nominal fee at the 1986 Society Symposium in Cleveland, Ohio. Pretty sure that Bailey Studios took this photo of Ken Cooley flying Beguine over Houston in the summer of 1949.

1949

Photographer: Fred Buehl
Notes: This was another photo of Beguine in 1949 given to me by Ollie Aldrich. I believe the photo was taken by Fred Buehl.

1949

Photographer: Jim Pyle
Notes: Another 1949 color photo by Jim Pyle. This time it is Beguine.

1949

Photographer: Randy Smith Collection
Notes: Beguine at the 1949 Cleveland Air Races. Photo is from the Randy Smith Collection.

1949

Photographer: John Penhallow Collection
Notes: Another great friend and fellow air racing nut was the late Bruce Fraites of Taylor, Michigan. Like Ollie anything related to the Beguine was the Holy Grail to him.

The aircraft was.extensively modified, including removal of the radiator scoop, wings clipped and radiators installed in two wingtip pods using tip fuel tanks from a FJ-1 Fury.

22 August 1949

To Jacqueline Cochrane and Floyd Odlum keeping c/r N4845N.
Markings added: 7

Circa 2 September 1949

Photographer: Charles M. Daniels / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive
Notes: Prior to its fateful crash in the 1949 Cleveland Air Races

5 September 1949

Destroyed in a crash.
During thhe 1949 Cleveland Air Races. On the second lap of the Thompson Trophy Race, pilot Bill Odum lost control and the plane crashed inverted into a residential neighborhood, killing Odum and two people on the ground.

5 September 1949

Photographer: Horton via Cleveland News Reference Treatment
Notes: Photographed at the National Air Races in Cleveland, OH.

This tragedy ended the holding of the National Air Races at Cleveland.

21 September 1949

Civil registration, N4845N, cancelled.

Circa 14 August 1970

Certificate of airworthiness for N4845N (P-51C, 42-103757) issued.

14 August 1970

To J D Reed Co Inc, Houston, TX with new c/r N4845N.