WARBIRDS P-51 Miss Helen
As new information on its history comes to light, a well-known wartime veteran P-51D Mustang makes a pilgrimage to the skies over its old base
The recovery and restoration of P-51D Mustang 44-72216 Miss Helen is part of the history of the UK’s warbird movement. It started more than 40 years ago, when rebuilds to airworthiness were far less numerous than they are today. At that time, little was known about the wartime background of this particular airframe, but details later came to light, connecting it with one of the US Army Air Forces’ most famous fighter units. Even now, new information on 44-72216’s career is still emerging.
When he started on the rebuild for then owner Robs Lamplough, Norman Chapman was unaware of all this. An aircraft engineer with vast experience on many types — everything from World War Two warbirds to vintage piston transports and commercial airliners — Norman worked at the RAF’s No 71 Maintenance Unit during the war, and then for Freddie Laker for many years. Now 98 years old, as well as having a very keen memory Norman keeps a collection of photographs and scrapbooks which record in some detail all the aircraft and projects he has been involved with…
