How We Met Sweet Revenge By Driving Through Small Towns

How We Met Sweet Revenge By Driving Through Small Towns.

“I like the P-51 because of the history, the sound of the Merlin engine, and it’s the first fighter I ever flew!”

Evan Fagen

You most likely have heard of Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, and other popular small vacation towns while traveling in Wisconsin. While you know what fun awaits you in these places, you never know what might be discovered on a small-town road trip.  

Sure, you can see planes all day at regional airports, but Sweet Revenge is exceptional, and together we were all alone. We were lucky because you usually stand in line and pay to see historical planes like this. Once again, taking the backroads paid off.  

Next, see how this Wisconsin road trip stacked up.

A Fun Route Through Wisconsin Small Towns

We were driving to Madison, Wisconsin, from Eau Claire when we debated if we would take I-90, go through Wisconsin Dells, and then take Highway 12 into Madison. Driving time took the same amount of time either way, so, like usual, we chose to go through small towns. After all, you see more when you drive two-lane highways through small towns. Our motto is you never know what you will come across by traveling through small towns. 

Besides, going through Wisconsin Dells, known for its abundance of resorts and waterparks, always guarantees something interesting to watch. Every single time. Like a plethora of fudge shops with people lined up in each one.  

Next, endless opportunities exist in the small town of Baraboo to see just about anything circus-related. Baraboo is the former winter home of the Ringling Bros. Circus.

Just south of Baraboo lies Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin’s most popular state park.  

On the Wisconsin River, Culver’s calls the small-town of Sauk City home. Culver’s is famous for its delicious butter burgers and frozen custard. In fact, Culver’s began here with a single mom-and-pop root beer stand before it grew into today’s franchise. 

Small Towns Offer Unexpected Discoveries

Following Sauk City, we barely made it into Middleton when I spotted the P-51 Mustang flying low and turning in front of us. At first, I did not identify it as a warbird. Then, I recognized the Mustang’s shape and its nose propeller as it turned to land.

I quickly tried to exit by the airport, but I couldn’t safely make it. The two-lane highway became four as it made its way into Middleton. The next exit couldn’t come fast enough! After we exited, we made a u-turn towards the airport where it landed.

We pulled into the parking space right in front of the shiny P-51 Mustang. Only a chain-link fence separated us from the vintage World War II-era airplane. I quickly opened my door and ran over to the fence, taking every little detail in. The Mustang was so shiny you could see reflections all over it.  

After a few minutes of absorbing all the details, Kristi told me that people were using the door next to me to go inside. My sight was so focused on the warbird that I didn’t see the entrance. Luckily, I was allowed to go through the small building and onto the apron where the plane was parked.  

Moments before, a small group of people surrounded the pilot beside the shiny warbird. Some wanted selfies, while others just wanted to ask questions. After making it through the building, I was excited to see no one else around the plane. The pilot went inside along with his small clan of groupies. 

Am I Dreaming?

So, there I stood, all alone with this beautifully restored aircraft.  Yes, I was in warbird heaven. 

Even though it has been restored, I could have easily touched every piece of this vintage plane. I could have felt history on my fingertips. Instead, I chose to respect the aircraft and its owners—hopefully, someday.

Seriously, getting this close to a vintage warbird without a soul around never happens. Ever. At best, an airshow would be your only choice, but people are always in the way, making photographs more difficult.  

Meeting The Pilot Of Sweet Revenge

Eventually, the pilot came out. His groupies again surrounded him. Even so, I asked if I could get his photo with his P-51 Mustang. He was delighted to do it! I was able to quickly request a few questions about Sweet Revenge before he walked back to his awestruck fans.

Dax Wanless piloted the plane. Dax is a racing pilot, mechanic, and announcer at air shows and has also been on the Red Bull Racing team. Now, he works for Fagen, Inc. as a corporate pilot. Judging by the smile on his face, he has many roles with Fagen Fighters World War II Museum.

Sweet Revenge was manufactured in 1945 and is now owned by Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota. Dax was flying the plane to Flying Cloud Airport in Minneapolis. Since I haven’t heard about the Fagen Fighters Museum, he mentioned many other planes they have.  

I quickly thanked him and let him get back to his crowd.

Sweet Revenge has participated in the EAA before, but I am unsure if it went this year.  Although the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA for short, the event is experimental, they have a historic warbird section of around 1,000 aircraft on display. Now, you can add Oshkosh as another small town to visit.

You can see The P-51 Mustang Sweet Revenge at its home in Fagen Fighters World War II Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota.

Why You Should Stop In Verona

After we left the Middleton airport, we drove through Verona. Verona has always been a favorite town for us. In the heart of the town is Miller and Sons Supermarket. It remains one of the best places to shop, and its service still can’t be beaten.

We like to stop for their mouth-watering donuts in the mornings when we take a day trip from Madison. Unfortunately, we drove through at lunchtime, so no donuts. However, we did see a steady rise of smoke from the corner of the parking lot. We pulled in because they allow organizations to use their grilling stand to raise money on Saturday. We ate freshly made brats and supported the Verona High School golf team at the same time.

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More About Sweet Revenge and the P-51 Mustang

The Sweet Revenge P-51D Mustang was delivered to the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) on January 5th, 1945. Although the aircraft was not initially used for warfare, it was sent to the Swedish Air Force later in 1945. Afterward, in 1952, it belonged to the Dominican Republic Air Force and remained there until it returned to the U.S. in 1984.  

A different role began in 1991 when it was restored as a racing plane in Chino, California, and named Platinum Plus. It raced under number 28.

Ron Fagen bought Platinum Plus in 1996 and renamed it Sweet Revenge.

I asked Evan Fagen, Ron and Diane’s son, Fagen Inc. executive and avid warbird pilot, about Sweet Revenge. He said, “I like the P-51 because of the history, the sound of the Merlin engine, and it’s the first fighter I ever flew!”. He also stated that Sweet Revenge was the first warbird for his family, and the name did not have a specific meaning behind it. 

Why the P-51 Mustang Is Important 

Sensing a full-scale war in Europe, the British Royal Air Force needed to beef up its fighter plane force, so they contacted North American Aviation on April 1, 1940. Instead of manufacturing more P-40 Curtiss Warhawks, the company’s president offered to engineer a new state-of-the-art fighter plane.   

Initially, the new plane was named Apache, but later it was renamed Mustang.  

In the beginning, the British used the P-51 Mustang much more than the USAAF. Eventually, the United States chose the P-51 Mustang as its top fighter.

The P-51 Mustang served many roles besides a fighter plane during the war. One of the most important roles was escorting bombers from England to Berlin while providing much-needed protection. Until the P-51 was used, bombers and their crews suffered heavy losses over Germany because Allied fighters did not have the range to protect them the entire distance.

More roles included dive bombers, intercepting enemy planes, ground attacks, and photo-reconnaissance.

Additional info about the P-51 Mustang

• A total of 14,819 P-51 Mustangs were built for the USAAF in all models

• American P-51 Mustangs destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft

• 105-gallon fuel capacity with a range of 950 miles flying at 25,000 feet

• Speed of 487 MPH at 25,000 feet

• Could fly up to a 42,000-foot ceiling

• Could be armed with up to six .50 caliber machine guns along with 1,880 rounds of ammunition 

• The wingspan of 37 feet, 32 feet 3 inches long, and 13 feet 8 inches in height

• The cost to build in 1945 was 51,000.00, or about 700,000.00 today

• Approximately 175 are still flying today, and around 100 are in museums

If you want to buy a restored P-51 Mustang, then plan on spending around two to four million dollars. That is, if you are lucky enough to find one.

Fagen Fighters World War II Museum

 

“Our goal is to connect the latest generation with the greatest generation.”

Diane Fagen

Head to the small town of Granite Falls, Minnesota, for a phenomenal World War II museum. Most museums with planes are just a collection of aircraft. Not here. The Fagen Fighters World War II Museum has fully operational planes, vehicles, thoughtful artistic displays, and a moving Holocaust exhibit.  

Each piece intentionally represents Ron and Diane Fagen’s mission for the museum. They state, “Our goal is to connect the latest generation with the greatest generation.” 

Every detail is essential, like the sand in the Utah Beach scene from the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The Fagen’s shipped sand straight from Utah Beach in France to be as authentic as possible.  

Fagen Fighters World War II Museum is based just outside of the small town of Granite Falls at Lenzen-Roe Memorial Airport. From downtown Minneapolis, the drive is only two hours west on Highway 212.

Describing the visitor’s initial reaction to the museum, Diane most often hears, “This is unexpected; I had no idea.”

Aircraft

All planes at Fagen Fighters WWII Museum are fully operational and superbly restored. Their F6F-5 Hellcat, named Death and Destruction, won Grand Champion and the Gold Wrench Award at the 2021 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.  

Along with numerous trainer aircraft, you will see these beautifully restored World War II planes.

• P-51D Mustang Sweet Revenge

• P-51D Mustang Twilight Tear

• P-38J Lightning Scat III

• P-40E Warhawk Desert Shark

• P-40K Warhawk Aleutian Tiger

• FM-2 Wildcat

• B-25 J-2 Mitchell medium bomber Paper Doll

• CG-4A WACO is a very rare combat glider

• A Japanese Zero is expected by October 1, 2021

Two more planes are currently being restored. A P-40E Warhawk and an SB2C-5 Hell Diver. I can not wait to see the Hell Diver because I still need to see a dive bomber.

Ground Vehicles

In addition to aircraft, the Fagen’s added fully restored and operational World War II vehicles from the ground war.  

• WC-55 Tank Buster

• M-16 Half-Track

• WC54 Dodge Ambulance

• Harley Davidson WLA

• Cushman 32 Scooter

• Willys MB JEEP

• Ford G-P JEEP

• Ford GPW JEEP

• GMC CCKWX – Deuce and a Half

• M4 Sherman Tank

• A Horse Drawn Delivery Wagon

• Clark Airborne Bulldozer CA-1 

Air Tower

Sitting beside the aircraft hangers, you will see the museum’s World War II control tower and Quonset hut depicting Leiston Airfield in England. Leiston Airfield was home to the 357th Fighter Group of the Army Air Corps 8th Air Force. In the control tower and Quonset hut, you will see authentic artifacts and communication equipment.

Holocaust Display

“The largest Holocaust exhibit of scale in the Upper Midwest. One of the goals of the exhibit is to make people think.”

Steve Hunegs
Jewish Community Relations council

The Holocaust display is one of the most thought-provoking displays in the museum. The Fagans searched Germany to find an authentic train car used during the Holocaust for their exhibit. After they found the right one, they had it restored and shipped it back to Granite Falls. Given that this 1899 railroad boxcar was used to relocate Jews during the war, this railroad car makes the display more profound.  

Along with the boxcar, lifesize statues create a delicate but dismal scene. In the middle of a small group of German soldiers and Jewish prisoners, a nazi officer commands an elderly Jewish woman out of the boxcar.  

Steve Hunegs from the Jewish Community Relations Council said, “One of the goals of the exhibit is to make people think.” He also mentioned that “This is the largest Holocaust exhibit of scale in the Upper Midwest.” 

Another mural by David Reiser completes the scene by giving it a European feel.

Tip: Look at the connecting knuckle on the boxcar since American trains use a different type.

Art

When you think of World War II museums, you rarely envision artistic expressions. Then again, Fagen Fighters World War II Museum chooses to be different. You will experience several forms of art illustrating the 1940s. 

Renowned Nebraska artist David Reisen has several large murals here. Such as the Utah Beach display behind the Higgins landing craft, Hell Cat and Hell Diver aircraft, behind the railroad boxcar Holocaust display, and other war scenes.

Pay attention to several Bronze statues, including twelve soldiers running out of the Higgins landing craft onto Utah Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. In particular, Ron Fagen’s father, Raymond, leads the charge out of the boat. Just like the Utah Beach display, he landed there on D-Day. Renowned artist Fred Hoppe, Jr. created the sculptures for the D-Day landing display.

Follow the library staircase in the Fighter Hanger to view a collection of signed prints. Likewise, see a collection of signed art prints of famous aviators with planes they flew in the middle. In addition, do not miss the photo and art gallery in the Trainer Hanger.  

Fagen Fighters World War II Museum Times and Admission

10 am – 4 pm Tues – Sat
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and National Holidays

Admission:
Children ages nine and under – free
Children, ages 10 – 17 – $5
Adults – $10
Family – $20
Active Military – $5

Final Thoughts

Since we decided to drive through small towns and two-lane highways, we met Sweet Revenge and learned about the Fagen Fighters World War II Museum. Otherwise, this fun experience would not have happened by driving on the interstate.

Now, I can not wait to visit the museum! 

Although the interstate seems like a quicker route, the best way to experience America is by driving through small towns. Take those smaller highways and backroads to see America. Besides, you never know what you will discover.

With this in mind, we always suggest traveling through small towns for new experiences. Whether driving all day or just to the next town, taking the backroads will renew your curiosity. Let these roads turn a dull drive into a fascinating path of discovery. 

We want to thank Evan Fagen and Dax Wanless for being so generous with their time during a hectic week participating in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

Thanks for reading How We Met Sweet Revenge By Driving Through Small Towns. You can always send us an email with any travel questions you have.

Tom and Kristi