Happy Jack’s Go Buggy
Joannie and I are very pleased to introduce our next light painting project. An amazing P-51D Mustang Fighter that was fully restored to honor a legendary WWII pilot and one of his aircraft, “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”! More on both the pilot and the P-51D, shortly.
Here are the 3 amazing subjects for that evening’s light painting project! At the trio’s conclusion, we decided to pull the Bronco and Ferrari away and light-painted the P-51D all by itself (most of it was already light-painted, so why not finish it?).
This light painting project was created at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just one week before AirVenture 2026.
Originally, we were in Oshkosh to light-paint a 2024 Ford Bronco Heritage Edition along with a 2025 Ferrari Roma Spider. The project would be themed: “Ford versus Ferrari”.
Ford vs Ferrari!
The Rest of the Story
The project itself came about through a wonderful gal that I met at AirVenture back in 2024, Jennifer Jensen. Jennifer is the President of NextJen Studios. They produce TV shows, including The Aviators and Auto Exotica. They also publish Auto Exotica magazine.
In 2024, Jennifer approached us at our Light Painting Photography booth because she really loved what we had on display and wanted to know more about the process. We had a great conversation, and she was excited about what we created.
Fast forward to 2025. Once again, Jennifer stopped by at AirVenture to say hello. During our visit this time, she told me that she’d love to write a story about us for Auto Exotica magazine! I was pretty excited about that possibility!
Our Light Painting Photography booth at AirVenture last year.
During that visit, she also mentioned that she’d placed an order for a very special automobile – the Ferrari Roma Spyder! After hearing about it, I mentioned that I would really enjoy light painting it for her once it arrived. She told me that she would be in touch.
Then, this spring, I received an email from Jennifer. The Ferrari had arrived, and she also had acquired the aforementioned Ford Bronco last fall, as well. She wondered if we would be interested in not only creating a light painting of them, but if we would be interested in her sharing our story for Auto Exotica magazine at the same time!
I didn’t have to think about that for very long. We were in!
Light Painting in Oshkosh Once Again
So, the week before AirVenture 2026, Joannie and I traveled to Oshkosh for the project with the Bronco and the Ferrari. While it would have been more convenient not to make the drive there twice in a week, both Jennifer’s schedule and ours were too crazy to take on this project during AirVenture 2026.
Not only that, but just a couple of days after we returned home, the awful smoke from the wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada might have postponed it. We’re so glad that we got it “In the can” before all of the smoke arrived.
We had a nice dinner with Jennifer right before the project. It was during dinner that she told us that there might be an aircraft available that night to add-on the the light painting. She was awaiting word as to whether we would have permission to use it. Right there at dinner, she got a text saying that we were a go to have it in the image!
As you’ve probably figured out by now, that aircraft was the P-51D Mustang, “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”!
Here I am with the amazing P-51D Mustang, “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”!
A Little History about “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”
This particular P-51D Warbird is known for its incredible restoration done by Midwest Aero Restorations, Ltd. The project took nearly two years to complete, but boy, was it worth it! The crowning achievement of their amazing work came with “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” winning Grand Champion honors at EAA AirVenture 2008.
Not only that, but also for its namesake. Its paint scheme and name are in honor of decorated WWII Ace fighter pilot Jack Ilfrey. Major Ilfrey was part of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, and was the eventual commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group. He is credited with shooting down seven and a half enemy aircraft during WWII
He also evaded capture twice.
On one of those occasions, he disguised himself as a deaf and mute French farmer. Then, Jack, with the assistance of French civilians, cycled 150 miles to Allied lines in Normandy.
Because Jack was always known for his cheerful disposition, his ground crews in England nicknamed each of his planes “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”. That nicknaming also included a P-51D Mustang that he flew near the conclusion of his overseas tour.
Here’s what the “hangar” version looks like. Pretty cool!
“Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” – Present Day
This decorated World War II P-51D Warbird “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” is owned by Bruce “Doc” Winter.
After obtaining a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Bruce joined the Navy in 1988 as an Aviation Officer Candidate. He completed flight training in 1992 and earned his first choice of jets; he selected the F/A-18A Hornet.
During his service to our country, “Doc” accumulated over 1,300 hours of flight time and 211 carrier arrested landings at sea. Not only that, but he also flew 25 OSW combat missions during a WestPac Cruise to the Persian Gulf. Later on, Bruce also served as an F/A-18 Hornet Exchange Instructor pilot with the Marine Corps in El Toro, California, followed by Miramar, California.
Bruce is now an Air Force Heritage Flight Team pilot out of Houston, Texas. The P-51D is now part of the Air Force Heritage Flight lineup for display at airshows around the country. It was at AirVenture 2026, which was how we were blessed to have it there, and to light-paint it, along with the Bronco and the Ferrari!
Light Painting “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”
Well, now you know most of the story, but how did we come about light painting the P-51D, all by itself? The short answer is, “Because it was there!”
Here’s the final light-painted artwork of the Ford Bronco Heritage Edition, the famous P-51 D Mustang “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”, and the Ferrari Roma Spider!
Upon completion of the 3-vehicle light painting, we simply removed the Bronco and the Ferrari and light-painted over the areas where they were in the original image. This allowed us to showcase this amazing aircraft all by itself.
In post-production, I created two versions. The one in the hangar that you saw above was the first. I liked it a whole lot! Then, I decided to have a little creative fun with it.
I decided to create a second version that would leave out all of the surroundings and make it all about the Mustang. By doing so, “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” has the appearance of being “Under the spotlight”, which was my intent. I do believe that was accomplished very nicely! Even my Mom loves it that way, so it must be pretty good!
This version is the one that my Mom gave a big “thumbs up” to! Well, she’s my Mom, so I can’t disagree with her!
“Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” – The Movie
In our short “Build Video”, you’ll be treated to the images that we took that evening, and actually used, to create the final artwork. To create the P-51’s light painting, we took 46 images. I used 27 of those, in 61 unique layers, to complete the one-of-a-kind artwork.
Because the Bronco and Ferrari were in some of the images that were used to make the P-51’s solo image, you’ll see those images in the video as well. Then, you’ll witness the entire light painting come to life, one layer at a time, until the one-of-a-kind image is complete. The link to the video on our YouTube channel is below:
Thank You, Jennifer!
A huge shout-out to Jennifer Jensen for asking us to do what we love to create both of these cool projects! We’re thrilled at how “Ford versus Ferrari” turned out, and look forward to seeing what you write about in “Our Story” in Auto Exotica magazine! Thank you so very much!
A second shout-out to a guy we haven’t even met (yet), Bruce “Doc” Winter. We do hope that our paths cross at some point in time. I’ve enjoyed reading about you on the Air Force Heritage Flight website, and hope to meet you in person someday.
And, finally, thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of your day to read all about our light painting project of “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy”! – M&J