1:32 P-51D Mustang

The Eagles from Debden at the close of the war

The 4th Fighter Group of the American Eighth Air Force grew out of squadrons in which, even before the United States entered the war, American volunteers served with the Royal Air Force. Its base was the Debden airfield in Essex and its pilots earned the reputation of the most successful fighter unit of their formation. By the spring of 1945 the group flew Mustangs exclusively and escorted daylight raids deep over German territory, where it increasingly attacked ground targets as well.

Two particular aircraft

The sheet brings markings for the machine with the serial number 44-14361 and the code WD-K, which in March 1945 flew with the 335th Squadron and was piloted by Lieutenant Darwin Berry. The second subject is the Mustang with the number 44-72346 and the code QP-K of the 334th Squadron, whose pilot was Lieutenant Michael Kennedy. Both aircraft carried a name on the nose under the exhausts and the typical checkerboard finish on the engine cowling, by which the group was recognized even from a distance. What is interesting is that both subjects have the same final letter, although they come from two different squadrons. For the builder this means that the difference has to be sought in the pair of letters in front of the roundel.

Building recommendation

The code letters and the national insignia are transferred with water and seated with decal softener. On the cowling it is advisable to spray the base color first and only then to stick on the decal with its fine pattern, because covering it with clear coat could blur the pattern. In the package there is only the printed sheet; the model and the paints do not belong with it.