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General Note

Accompanying note: "During test flights for the P-51 Mustang, one of the planes caught fire while in flight. Base officials directed the pilot to head for Sarasota Bay and ditch the aircraft, but the pilot insisted on returning the plane to base. Upon landing, the pilot jumped from the moving, flaming plane while base personnel extinguished the fire. Upon investigating the aircraft, Studer determined that one of the plane's fuel pumps had been sabotaged. According to Studer's recollections, the installing mechanic was later arrested, and he confessed to sabotaging this and 18 other P-51 Mustangs."

"The donor, Michael J. Drake, received this photograph from Sherman Studer."

Biographical Note

Sherman A. Studer was a technical representative for North American Aviation assigned to Sarasota Army Air Field during World War II.