ANN REALTIME Update, 0945 EST, 07.27.05: The pilot of "Donna-Mite"has now been confirmed as Richard James, 67, of Fennimore, Wi. ANN Extends our condolences to his family and friends.

This month's series of airshow tragedies has just added another soul to the roster.

A North American P-51 Mustang, reported in general media as a D model bird, was lost during the Tuesday afternoon warbird fly-bys at the Oshkosh EAA Airshow. Tuesday's show featured a number of exciting warbird flights throughout the afternoon, including USAF Heritage Flights, a number of bomber runs and a series of fighter passes that thrilled tens of thousands who braved occasional rains to view one of the strongest Oshkosh airshow rosters in many years.

The aircraft had completed one pass and was preparing for another when it was discovered to be missing from the formation gathering for the next approach to Oshkosh, Wisconsin's Wittman Field. The Fond Du Lac Police Department received a report of a "Plane Down" at 1602 local time and dispatched officers to the scene. A single engine aircraft was found to have impacted a farm field in Calumet County, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin... near the east Shore of Lake Winnebago. The aircraft was occupied by a single pilot, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

One media report quotes NTSB Investigator Ed Malinowski as saying that, 'judging by the crash site, it didn't look like there was any effort to land the plane.'

History Of The "Donna-Mite"

According to public records, the Donna-Mite was a North American P-51D fighter, serial number 44-74417 construction number 122-40957. The aircraft was assigned a construction contract number in 1944, just as war production was gearing down in anticipation of an Allied victory. As a result the plane likely remained in storage until 1950, when it was assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force and assigned her first registry RCAF 9586. This airplane remained in Canadian service for eight years, until she was sold to Intercontinental Airways in Canastota, NY in December of 1958.

The aircraft was sold to Aero Enterprises of Elkhart, IN in May of 1960, and was assigned registry N6327T. Ownership of the aircraft was transferred to Garland Brown on February 16th, 1963, and he would remain the owner for the next 24 years.

The aircraft was involved in an accident in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on 4 August 1966, when the aircraft struck a Cessna 175 from behind during a fast taxi after landing. The airplane was repaired and returned to service.

The aircraft changed owners 1987, and again in 1989 when Richard James purchased the airplane. At the time, she was painted as the "Tabasco." Mr. James repainted the aircraft as the "Donna-Mite" in 1996.

The aircraft was involved in a second accident on 28 July 1994, while the aircraft was participating in the Oshkosh air show. Again, the aircraft struck another aircraft from behind while taxing after landing, this time striking the tail of a Commander 114A at Fort Atkinson, WI. The aircraft was once more repaired. 

[ANN Thanks Troy Prince, of www.midwaysailor.com, for his kindpermission in granting ANN the use of the above photos.]

FMI: www.warbirds-registry.com, www.ntsb.gov/aviation, www.airventure.org