Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd's TF-51D (formerly P-51D) Mustang, serial 44-84847 (MSN 124-44703), 'Contrary Mary', G-TFSI, performing at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford during the Summer Airshow on 18th June 2022.

Built too late to see combat service in World War Two, P-51D 44-84847 was one of the last Mustangs constructed at North American Aviation’s Dallas, Texas, plant. It was built as a photo reconnaissance conversion of the P-51D which was designated F-6D-25-NT, of which 136 were made. Details of her post war service career are limited, but there is photographic evidence, from September 1951, of her serving with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo, South Korea, during the Korean War.

By late 1951 the 45th TRS were replacing their ageing Mustangs with RF-80 Shooting Star jets, and so 44-84847 was shipped back to the US to serve with the Air National Guard until around 1956. Her history from then until January 1999 is unknown, but at that time she re-appeared in North Dakota as a restoration project. The airframe joined The Fighter Collection fleet in 2000 and was moved to Chino, California for a full restoration by Fighter Rebuilders, with the decision made to modify her to two-seat TF-51D configuration. Whilst undergoing restoration in USA she was registered N251RJ.

Following restoration she flew again in May 2007 with Steve Hinton at the controls. She was then painted in the 55th Fighter Group scheme of Capt. Frank Birtciel’s P-51D 44-14561, 'Miss Velma' and arrived at Duxford on the 4th July 2007.

Since July 2016 she has been owned by Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd.
On 9th July 2017 she came to grief during the Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford, when her pilot had to make a wheels up forced landing in a cornfield due to engine failure. This caused damage to the airframe and she was shipped back to USA for repairs. Once these were completed the owner took the decision to repaint her in the new colour scheme of 'Contrary Mary'. This scheme was worn by P-51D Mustang 44-14251, coded WZ-I, of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), 78th Fighter Group, based at Duxford during 1945, originally a P-51D-10-NA (msn 109-27880) ‘WZ-I’, flown by Lt.Col. Roy Blair Caviness. This aircraft was officially assigned to the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th FG, fittingly based at Duxford and known as The Duxford Eagles. However Caviness himself was part of the Headquarters Squadron, and brought the P-51 with him as his personal Mustang when he was transferred from Command of the 361st FG to take over as Group Commander of the 78th from 1 July 1945.

The repaired Mustang now wearing it's new 'Contrary Mary' colour scheme was completed in time for a reappearance at the Flying Legends Airshow at Duxford a year after its unfortunate accident. The aircraft is now owned by Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd, which is a company closely linked with Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd. It's operated by Air Leasing from Sywell Airfield and also spends much of its time based at Duxford.

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