\u201cThese aircraft effectively now belong to New Zealand, that\u2019s the way we look at it. We have no interest in selling or sending them off overseas or anything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to think that in 50 years somebody can come here and still see them \u2013 that\u2019s the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2020, the trust recovered the Mustang and worked for three and a half years to restore it to its original condition.<\/p>\n
The core project team of five worked an estimated 12,000 man-hours to complete the restoration.<\/p>\n
The Mustang\u2019s first flight since restoration was in November 2023, and it has since completed about 35 hours of flying time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going really well. It\u2019s had so little use through its history from the day it was first flown at the factory until now; it\u2019s less than 300 hours,\u201d Deere said.<\/p>\n
It was originally built in a factory in Dallas, Texas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe combination of the American airframe and the British engine made it a magnificent aircraft, there\u2019s no question about it,\u201d Deere said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fuel capacity was one of the big strong points of the Mustang. It could go a long way, and the armament was very effective for what they had to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Author Brendon Deere’s book \u201cMustang: Return to Flight\u201d shares the story of New Zealand\u2019s last surviving World War II Mustang. Photo \/ Fin Ocheduszko Brown<\/p>\n
It was one of 30 Mustangs built to send to Europe towards the end of WWII, but the war ended before they arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had no use for them, so they put them into storage at [RNZAF Base Auckland] Hobsonville for seven years. This one was in storage for nine years,\u201d Deere said.<\/p>\n
In 1955, it was transferred to \u014chakea to No 42 Squadron for fighter affiliation, drogue (or target) towing, communication and continuation flying before retiring in 1957 as the last RNZAF Mustang in service.<\/p>\n
The following year, it was sold for scrap to Bill Ruffell in Blenheim, who intended to use the engine for a speedboat.<\/p>\n
That never happened and, in 1964, it was sold to aircraft collector John Smith, based in Mapua.<\/p>\n
The Mustang remained in his shed for more than 50 years until he died in 2019. His brother George sold it to Deere in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201c[George] wanted to see this one fly and to stay in New Zealand. We met both conditions,\u201d Deere said.<\/p>\n
The restoration began shortly after, with a big part being rebuilding the wings and skinning.<\/p>\n