Help us learn more about 'our' P-51a/b

Factual Questions
1

In 1942-43, the college where i work did some fund-raising and used the money to pay for a fighter plane which I assume was purchased on behalf of the Army Air Force. A larger version of this photo of the ‘Spirit of Webster College’ hangs in our administration building. One of our reference librarians has checked with the Air Force Historical Studies office but since we don’t know the serial number of the ship, they couldn’t help us out. Beyond the photo and a very brief article in the student newspaper (I’m trying to get that whole article to post on here) from around the time the plane was purchased, we have no other info. Any suggestions on websites that could help us out? Our librarian has a message out on the mustangsmustangs.us message board but no joy yet.

I’m pretty sure its a P-51a since the b-models and afterwards were all equipped with four-bladed props (I think; my reference books aren’t with me at the moment).

2

Yes, it’s a P-51A. P-51Bs had Merlin engines and the carb intake scoop is on the bottom instead of the top.

Without a bureau number I doubt you’ll turn anything up unless a WWII vet who knew it by its name is A) still alive; B) remembers it for some reason; and C) knows you’re looking for it. I think it likely it was broken up for scrap after the war.

3

Thanks for the confirmation on the model type, I had forgotten about the scoop positioning on the later models.

Our librarian was told by the AF Historical Studies office that birds purchased under that sort of program frequently had the ‘Spirit of X’ painted on in the factory, X being the benefactor, and then said plane was usually re-named by its pilot and frequently re-painted in squadron colors and whatnot. So yeah, this is a loooong shot at best but I figured I’d give it a shot here.