After its USAF career when it flew as 44-72400 this P-51D became involved in air races with different owners since 1946! In 1952 it made an attempt on the piston airspeed record with race number 45. In 1972, it was acquired by the Bradley Air Museum in derelict condition and subsequently restored for display. It still looks very shiny here in 2016, displaying its old race number 45.

This P-51 was TOC by the USAF as 44-72400 but too late to see combat. It was bought as surplus and registered NX69406 after WWII. Then followed a long and successful career as a modified racing plane with the registrations NX13Y, N13Y, N502 and N913Y. The plane is on display at the NEAM as it looked in 1949 when competing as #45 in four Thompson Trophy races and winning in 1948.