Granite Falls, The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, 2450 540th Street, 56241.
(Historic and Classic Aircraft Sales Photo)
Bell P-39D Airacobra (Serial No. 41-6951), “Erminie“, previously with the Beck Military Collection in Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. 41-6951 was the first USAAF fighter to land on New Guinea during the Second World War, on 5 April 1942. 41-6951 was recovered in 1942 from the Cape York Peninsula, where it had been abandoned after an emergency landing in bad weather. Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39D-15-BE Airacobra Serial Number 41-6951. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Pursuit Group (8th PG), 36th Pursuit Squadron (36th PS) “The Flying Fiends”. Nicknamed “Erminie”.
On 1 May 1942 took off from Antill Plains Airfield near Townsville piloted by Lt. Charles Faletta on a flight bound for 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby as one of six Airacobras led by Faletta with his wingman P-39F 41-7215 piloted by Lt. Harvey. The formation included also included P-39F 41-7216 piloted by Lt. Yundt and P-39F pilot 2nd Lt. Love.Flying northward, the formation made a refueling stop at Cooktown Airfield, then encountered a storm near Horn Island, where they planned to land at Horn Island Airfield to and refuel before the final leg of the journey to Port Moresby.While flying in bad weather and thick clouds, Lt. Falletta led the other pilots who were all inexperienced with instrument flying back to the Cape York Peninsula. Low on fuel, they searched for a suitable place to land. Lt. Faletta and wingman, Lt. Harvey chose a landing spot roughly 13-16 kilometers inland from Cape Orford Ness, near the Escape River near Weipa.Faletta managed to make a wheels down landing, unhurt. Nearby landing wheels up was P-39F 41-7215 piloted by Lt. Harvey. Landing on a nearby beach was P-39F 41-7216 piloted by Yundt and P-39 pilot Lt. Love.RescueAfter their landings, Falletta and Harvey located each other and made a two day trek to the nearest beach where they were rescued. This aircraft remained in situ until 1961. Rediscovered during 1959 by an ANA pilot, Percy Tresize. During 1961, Ian Mullins, Elton and James were the first to walk to the wreck and found it perfectly intact, even the log book still inside the cockpit data case, which was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Canberra.RecoveryDuring 1972, the wreckage was recovered by CART (Cairns Aircraft Recovery Team). Afterwards, acquired by Syd Beck and during the 1970s restored to static display. (HCAS)
(Aaron Headly Photo)
Curtiss JN-4D Jenny biplane, Reg. No. N2975.
(Aaron Headly Photos)
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk Mk. IA, RAF (Serial No. AK753), “Desert Shark“, Reg No. N402WR.
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk Mk. IA, RAF (Serial No. AK683), Reg. No. N4420K, restoration project.
Curtiss P-40K Warhawk (Serial No. 42-10083), “Aleutian Tiger“, Reg. No. N402WH.
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver (BuNo. 83393), being restored.
(Alan Wilson Photos)
Douglas A24B Bansee (Serial No. 42-54682), c/n 17521, Reg. No. N93RW, previously with the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas.
ERCO 415-C Ercoupe XPQ-13 (Serial No.41-25196), C/N 11, Reg. No. N37143.
Fairchild PT-19A Cornell (Serial No. 398687), 108.
Fairchild PT-22 Cornell (Serial No.), 277.
Fairchild PT-26 Cornell (Serial No. 215429), 950.
(Aaron Headly Photo)
General Motors FM-2 Wildcat (BuNo. 86774), c/n 5832, Reg.No. N774FM.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat (BuNo. 78645). Painted as (BuNo. 72534), “Death N’ Destruction“, as flown by VF-83 ace Don McPherson from the USS Essex in 1945. Airworthy.
(Michael Pereckas Photo)
(Aaron Headly Photos)
Lockheed P-38J Lightning (Serial No. 44-27231), C/N 422-8235, 3321, “Scat III“, (previously named “Ruff Stuff“), Reg. No. N79123.
(Aaron Headly Photos)
Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4-Trop (Wk. Nr. 8693), replica (full size mock-up) representing German Luftwaffe fighter ace Hans Joachim Marseilles.
Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero (Serial No. 3858), built in 1942. This Zero had been assigned to the 3rd Naval Air Group, prior to being damaged and eventually abandoned on Babo airstrip, New Guinea. It was salvaged in the 1990s and rebuilt in Russia and returned to the USA in 1997. Reg. No. N553TT.
(Aaron Headly Photos)
North American B-25J-2 Mitchell (Serial No. 44-86698), c/n 108-47452, “Paper Doll“, Reg. No. N325N.
(Aaron Headly Photos)
North American SNJ-4 Texan, USN (BuNo. 27234), coded 11-3, Reg. No. N714AW. 12071941. SNJ Texan c/n 88-12270.
North American P-51B-1-NA Mustang (Serial No. 43-12112), USAAF 56th Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Group. This aircraft crashed into Florida’s Lake Hancock during a training flight on 24 Nov 1943. The remains were salvaged in the 1980s. To be restored.
(Aaron Headly Photos)
North American P-51D-20NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-63864), ex-Swedish Air Force, “Twilight Tear“, Reg. No. N251L. Ron Fagen.
(Aaron Headly Photos)
North American P-51D-20NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-72051), ex-Swedish Air Force, “Sweet Revenge“, Reg. No. N68JR. Ron Fagen.
North American P-51D Mustang, replica mounted on a pylon.
(Aaron Headly Photo)
Ryan ST-3KR Recruit (Serial No.), c/n 1306, No. 277, Reg. No. N571B4.
Sweizer TG-2 Glider (Serial No.).
(Aaron Headly Photos)
Vultee BT-13 Valiant, (Serial No 121386), c/n 74-5225, 205, Reg. No. N54841.
(Aaron Headly Photo)
Waco CG-4A Hadrian Glider, replica. This example was completed in 2012, rebuilt from the original parts that were left in the inventory of Villaume Industries.
This museum also has a Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant M4 Sherman Composite ‘Thunder – U.S.A. 12572652’.