Indeed, that's the story I had read, with "his" date of 1 April 1945.
Suggested serial 44-15617 brings another question forward. This P-51D is (also?) mentioned in connection with Capt. Wendell W. Beaty of 355th FG who was KIFA on 26 March 1945 near Calais due to bad weather..
On findagrave.com DOD is 29 March 1945, while newspaper clipping on same site has 25 March 1945. Also see
http://www.geocities.ws/pentagon/1979/honor.html with again 26 March 1945 for Capt. Beaty.
This P-51 not in accident lists either.
Regards,
Leendert