Here’s your chance to own a piece of World War II history.
Restored to its stunning war-era markings and operability, a 1944 P-51D Mustang fighter aircraft is up for sale.
The plane is cool, but the local connection to it is even cooler.
Alexandria native Richard “Bud” Peterson piloted that aircraft during World War II.
This is the last of four “Hurry Home Honey” warbirds that Peterson flew during the war.
Aircraft like it were reportedly sold as military scrap in the 1950s.
Paul Z. Besterveld of Corpus Christi, Texas, bought Hurry Home Honey 4 in November of 2013.
“The airplane was in excellent cosmetic condition. We performed some extensive mechanical maintenance that took about 12 months,” he told the Echo Press. Now, it’s up for sale. The restored aircraft is listed on
trade-a-plane.com
for $1.95 million.
The online ad notes: “1944 P51D Mustang. 5SMOH, Low Time Cuff Prop, new radiator, P63 wheels and brakes, Merlin fingers, pre-oiler, transport heads and banks, Sky Harbor paint, historically significant signed by [Richard ‘Bud’] ‘Pete’ Peterson, Chuck Yeager and Bud Anderson. Many spare parts including low time extra engine, radiator, brakes and much more. Prefer partial trade for PC-7 or other warbird.”
Besterveld said, “We would consider selling the airplane if another P51D Mustang project would come along.
Besterveld is a pilot who has a passion for historic aviation and said he flies Hurry Home Honey on a regular basis.
ABOUT PETERSON Peterson was born in Hancock in 1923, graduated from Central High School in Alexandria in 1940 and attended the University of Minnesota from 1940 to 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Force and completed flight training in Texas.
Peterson flew two full tours during World War II – from January 1944 to March 1945 with the 364th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, based in England.
He flew four Mustangs during that span – a P-51B, P-51C and two P-51D’s, one of which is now up for sale.
All four were named, “Hurry Home Honey,” which is reportedly the way his sweetheart, and later wife, Elaine Bjorklund of Alexandria, signed her letters to him.
According to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Peterson was known as the “shepherd in the skies” because of his skill in guiding fellow pilots to safety during the war.
He flew 150 missions over Europe and is credited with shooting down 15.5 enemy aircraft. He became a major at age 21; at the time, the youngest person to achieve that rank in the Army Air Force.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, the Air Medal and the French Croix de Guerre.
Following the war, Peterson returned to school and worked as an architect in the Twin Cities.
Peterson died in June 2000.
He was a hometown boy turned war hero and one of the most memorable moments locally came shortly after the war, when he flew home for a visit.
According to an article printed in the July 28, 1995 Echo Press, Peterson recalled needing some air time to get his pay so he made a flight to Alexandria to visit family and friends.
The article noted: “Like a barnstormer happy to be home again, Peterson – feeling confidently reckless – nosed down and down as he approached his hometown leveling off his P-40 to just-above-treetop level, he buzzed right over the top of his alma mater, Alexandria High School. Then he swooped even lower to dip briefly down into the sunken football field behind the school. He airily and effortlessly performed three slow rolls and then buzzed over his wife’s mother’s house and his mother’s house before landing coolly and calmly at the airport.”
CHECK OUT THE DISPLAY A detailed display of history, photos and articles about Richard “Bud” Peterson is located at Alexandria Municipal Airport Chandler Field . Hours of operation are weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The facility is open to the public.
