P-51D 44-73857 RCAF 9245 N6351T to James Defuria. Then as N651D to Richard Snyder as a racer "Miss Phoebe II" #45. The aircraft was modified with a wet wing at this time. The aircraft passed through two more owners before Don Plumb of Windsor, Ontario bought her 23 January 1975. Quickly passing to John Bolton of Sandford, FL 21 February 1975 she was destroyed less than 8 months later, crashing alongside CF-USA and Don Plumb, 15.10.75.

The plane in this case, # 223 figures prominently on the CD. This is N651D, 44-73857, Johnny Bolton’s “Hi Honey” sitting on the runway at Sanford, FL.

This is "HI HONEY" N651D 44-73857, ex N6315T, ex RCAF 9244.
It went thru seven owners between RCAF service and 15 Oct 75, when it crashed
near Big Spring, TX, killing owner Johnny Boulton. He was flying with Don
Plumb who was in CF-USA, and they both crashed within 5 miles of each other,
but it was not believed to have been a midair. They both flew into the same
Texas thunderstorm, and didn't make it.

Just a few misspellings in your text. The name is spelled "Bolton", he was Ford Dealer in Maitland Florida, Johnny Bolton Ford. The location for the plane was "Sanford" Florida. I watched him fly that thing in the sky over Maitland many times. He certainly knew how to have fun with it. I assume that he was strictly VFR and never had any IFR training.

They took off from the Lazy E ranch that the Edwards Brothers owned (both of them are deceased now) and both got caught in a thunderstorm. There were 4 planes that took off, two of them made it out and my dad and Don Plumb both crashed. My dad actually had a passenger, Norm Danielson, who used to be the dental assistant for Dr. Steve Shulke, who died in a trainer plane with his son a few years earlier. Dr. Shulke used to fly Mustangs and inspired my dad to start flying.

Incidentally, the plane was equipped with radar.

Bob, did your dad also own a P38 Lightning? I remember seeing your dad’s P-51 over the Winter Park CC golf course as a kid, but I also saw a P-38 fly overhead on a couple of occasions.

Yes he also owned P-38, which I flew in several times with him. That was an amazing bird. At the time, it was one of 7 known in the world to be airworthy and the only one know with functioning turbos (I am not certain about the total know to be airworthy, but that is what my dad told me).
The FAA got a few calls on his "buzzing" over Winter Park and Maitland so he had to move that out to New Smyrna beach over the water.

Incidentally to Richard Burgan - he had thousands of hours both VFR and IFR and was fully certified IFR. As far as the accident, they got caught in a Texas thunderstorm and were in a hurry to get home to Florida. Unfortunately, it was a bad decision. I married Don Plumbs daughter and still am married to her. There were 4 mustangs that took off that day, two made it out and two crashed. One f those that made it out was Jimmy Leeward, who you all may know was killed at the Reno air races in a very modified mustang.

Want to know something messed up?

I Googled Johnny Bolton plane crash because, for some reason, I remembered something my grandmother told me decades ago.

She said he sold her a lemon, he wouldn't make good on it, she cursed him, and he died in a plane crash.

Take from that what you will...

I lived a few blocks away from Johnny Bolton Ford. I watched both the P51 and P38 fly over all the time. I also knew a few of the techs that left and went to McInerny Ford after the crash when Don Reid acquired the dealership.... they didn't like Don Reid. However, they spoke very highly of Johnny Bolton.

I really miss watching those two war birds.

Bob Bolton,
I heard that there were prop marks on the bottom of Johnny's plane. Is this true?

btw, I didn't notice your name at first. I was just reading what others were posting. Must have been a blast riding that bird! Are there more photos, of both the P51 and P38, around that are not on the internet?

Airshow '75, Harlingen, Texas one week before the thunderstorm crash. Flew a four ship missing man with Johnny Bolton in the lead, Don Plumb left wing, Jimmy leeward in MM position on Johnnie's right wing. I was with Max Hoffman in Boomer on Jimmie's right wing. We had 14 Mustangs at that show, CAF Airsho '75.

Hello, I would like to contact Bob Bolton. Im doing a story on Johnny Bolton Ford. Would it be possible for you to share some biographical information on your dad?

Thank you

Pete D

This was so interesting to come across. Don Plumb was my uncle, the 2nd of 9 kids after my mother. His death was a huge shock to the family and very hard on Mom. It was Uncle Don who took me and my two brothers up in our first plane ride over Windsor-Essex, Ontario back in the early 70s. He and his family had just achieved a long-held dream and moved to Florida a year or so before the crash.

My name is Carol Plumb Bolton. My dad is Don Plumb and I am married to Johnny
Bolton’s son Bob. Met at the memorial service for our dads and have together ever since. Bob would be happy to fill you in on the dealership. You can email us or he is on fb under Bob Bolton and I am under Carol Plumb.
Now for Gregg’s post. How heartless of you to suggest or be glad that Johnny Bolton crashed. He was an awesome man. I am sorry about your grandmother’s car but you sound quite satisfied that he crashed and it was because your grandmother wished something would happen. I would never wish something so bad would happen to someone. My Grandmother, Mother and Father instilled much better values in us. Shame on you!

Now, things needs to be cleared up. Mike, it was impossible to know if there were prop marks on Johnny’s plane. The planes were completely destroyed, nothing left AND they were found miles apart.
People need to think of the families that went through this and stop thinking they know what went wrong. It hurts all of us who suffered the loss of these wonderful men. Hurt back then and still hurts all these years later.

To Gregg McElwain
No interest in taking about my dads dealership. For those that would question his character, when I was a kid I had my first job in his body shop at age 13. The manager there told me he was explicitly told not to show me any favoritism and he worked my butt off. I got to know all of the guys there that worked not only in the shop but in his service department. He employed almost 150 people and they told me he made rounds every day and knew every single person there by name. He started from nothing and made himself into one of the largest ford dealerships in the country.

For someone to imply that he crashed due to some kind of karma for treating a customer bad is ridiculous. As far as the crash, there was not a piece bigger than a breadbox left of him or the plane, so for someone who thinks they know more, you are obviously completely ill advised.

I grew up flying in and out of Sanford airport with my dad in the early 80's , we spent a lot of time with a guy named Robbie Roberts, he had a small fbo on the northwest side of the field.

If I remember the story correct, Robbie was flying one of the other P51's that day in Texas. Robbie was a character for sure! always had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, always cussing, was one hell of a pilot! as I got older and started flight training I went by to visit and was sad to find out he had passed away, his neat little fbo was gone, including all the aircraft memorabilia he had inside.

My dad was a big golfer back in the day, always told stories of Johnny Bolton, I think they played golf together quite a bit.

My dads name was Gary Holmes

My dad, Bill Redeker, was a good friend of Johnny back in the Stone-Bolton Buick days. I remember watching the P-38 buzz Clearwater Exec before a QB hangar at PIE. We put all the phones on hold so the complainers thought their neighbors got through. Dad sold him aircraft’s and Johnny sold him several cars. Greatly respect the man he was.

My dad Fred Sandfort and I painted this plane for Mr. Bolton. Flew in it with Robbie Roberts " Old Cuz" several times along with others Mr. Bolton owned. Have several pictures from the "WAH Room" of all those planes some I took while flying back seat at airshows. Have the painting of " Hi Honey" that was in the showroom at Johnny Bolton Ford. Wish someone in the family would get it from me. Robbie taught me how to fly I was only 13 then when I started 1st time up in Mr. Bolton's Queen Air. Planes were buried on Connie Edwards Ranch after wreck but never made it out to see it for sure.

I feel like one of the family here, just tracing Don Plumb to find out about an air show I attended in about 1972/73 at Sandwich airport in Windsor ON. I was just about to join the army and this was about the last thing I did before leaving. I remember being out in my school yard years before in the back field and hearing an aircraft engine overhead, looked up and it was a Spitfire doing a slow roll overhead at about 1000ft. Probably 1968(?) Clear as could be and no one else noticed. I didn't know Don was gone (RIP) and of course didn't know the circumstances. I come from the area and feel like I knew him and am just now finding out he's gone. Never met him though...condolences. Bob and Carol met though and there IS that... Still feels like I lost an acquaintance and am just finding out. Sad...