Harvard NZ1079 makes headlines in the USA.

102 year old Charles Baldwin and North American Harvard NZ1079 make headlines in the US.

Above, Charles and his son with NZ1079.

FORT WORTH - A World War II pilot took to the skies again Saturday in Fort Worth. 

One-hundred-and-two-year-old Charles Baldwin flew 51 combat missions during the war.
Saturday, he climbed aboard the same type of plane he piloted 80 years ago and took the controls for part of the flight. 

Baldwin was learning to fly through the civilian pilot training program when he was called to active duty in January 1943. After basic training, he went to flight training. He graduated and was commissioned in March 1944. He was sent to France in November 1944 and attached to the 36th Fighter Group, 23rd Fighter Squadron and began flying combat missions in a P-47. Note the PSP surface.

Baldwin was discharged in December 1945 but stayed in the reserves until 1982.   
On Saturday, Baldwin's son, also a pilot, flew a second plane so he and his father could fly in formation.
Baldwin thanked everyone who made this special flight happen, adding, "It's just like riding a bike." 

For another look at NZ1079 see Here.

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This aircraft was constructed by North American Aviation at Dallas Texas having been allocated the USAAF serial number 41-34050 and with the manufacturers construction number 88-15611. (some sources say 88-15367). It was part of an RAF/FAA order and allocated the serial of EZ177 but it was diverted and shipped to NZ in April of 1944.

Assembled at Hobsonville is became NZ1079 with the RNZAF on 09-05-1944.

At the end of its active RNZAF career - by which time it was a Mk111* - it was 'struck off charge' and sold by tender through the GSB to W Williams of Mount Maunganui on 07-08-1978. 

(Would this be the same Derek William of Harvard ZK-ENC fame ?)

It never made it onto the ZK register as it was exported aboard the MV Australian Venture to Paul Brice of Basye, Virginia in September of 1978.

There was some difficulty having it registered in the USA as the manufacturers plate was missing.

After identity was resolved with the FAA it was registered as N111PB on 07-12-1978 to Paul Brice.

On 04-06-1980 a new certificate was issued to it as N101NZ.

Gerald Morgan of Bedford, Texas, and several other locations, took it on from 02-10-1991.

From 13-01-2022 it has been listed with Stephen Swift of Justin, Texas.

It has been based at the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham Airport, Fort Worth, Texas and retains the

RNZAF 'Checkers' scheme - although the cowling 'checks' are fewer and somewhat larger.