07/31/2023. Remarks by Bob Bourlier: "Built under the USAAF serial 41-37426, this P-51 was one of 58 Mustang Mk.IAs withheld from a British order for 150 aircraft in 1942. Accepted by the USAAF on September 8, 1942 it was flown to Patterson Field, Dayton, Ohio on September 17, 1942. Sans its 0.787 in (20 mm) cannons it was turned over to the USN for suitability trials receiving BuNo. 57987. On February 5, 1943 it was sent to NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C. In 1945 the aircraft was used at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, as chase plane for new aircraft testing, 1945.

Soon after the war the airplane was sold surplus, registered NX1204V, it was used by C.C. Brotton for air racing with race number 97. On April 29, 1948 it went to the Dominican Republic AF and was serialed FAD 1705. Only eight months later it was written off as destroyed."