Markings for P-51D Mustang 1/72

COL A

P-51D-5, s/n 44-13535, Lt. Edward F. Pogue, 79th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF, Kings Cliffe, United Kingdom, 1945

This Mustang was flown by Lt. E. F. “Pogie” Pogue at the end of 1944, it already had a long and rich service career that saw a list of 20th FG pilots in its cockpit. The aircraft carried names like Black’s Bird and Wilma, but it was under the name of “Chattanooga Choo Choo” that the airplane made its mark, a name taken from the popular song made famous by Glenn Miller. As the names of the plane changed, so did its appearance. The original 20th FG markings consisting of black and white stripes on the nose behind the spinner were later supplemented by vertical black and white bands, the 20th Fighter Group identifier. The black square on the tail indicated service with the 79th Fighter Squadron. Later on, the serial number of the aircraft also made a return on the fin and rudder. The illustration here captures the look of the aircraft as it appeared in the spring of 1945, by then carrying the name Chattanooga Choo Choo. The application of the invasion stripes also went through an evolution. By this time, the invasion stripes had been removed, and so were the ETO quick identification markings, the remnants of which are only visible on the main gear covers. The underlined individual aircraft letter indicated that, at the time, there was already an airframe coded MC-R flying. During this period, it was flown almost exclusively by Lt. Pogue and according to available sources, was used in achieving all of his six destroyed enemies. After the end of the Second World War, Lt. Pogue piloted F-80s in Japan and later flew F-84s during the Korean War. He ended his career as a Lt. Colonel. For his outstanding service, he received nine Air Medals and two DFCs, among others.

COL B

P-51D-10, s/n 44-14450, Capt. Clarence E. Anderson, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, October 1944

“Bud” Anderson was born on January 13, 1922, in Oakland, California. In January 1942 he joined the Army and till September 28, 1942, served as an Air Cadet. In November 1943 he was assigned to the 363rd FS, 357th FG. He finished his first tour of duty in June 1944 and returned to the United States for two months. In September 1944 he returned to his original unit. In the beginning of December 1944, he was promoted to Major and in January 1945 finished his second tour of duty. In total he flew 116 combat missions and logged 1423 flight hours. His final score was 17 confirmed aerial victories. After the war he mostly flew as a test pilot, and he retired from the Air Force on March 31, 1972.  The Mustang flown by Clarence “Bud” Anderson during his second tour was initially camouflaged on all upper surfaces, including the landing flaps interiors, in dark green paint, probably RAF Dark Green. The lower surfaces were painted in Medium Sea Grey. In the end of 1944 Bud had the camouflage paint removed from his Mustang and flew it in the natural metal finish. “Bud” Anderson named his new Mustang the same as the previous ones, Old Crow and shot down four more German aircraft while flying it. After he finished his second tour of duty, his Old Crow was handed over to Lt. James Taylor from the 363rd FS and renamed Pretty Pix. After the war the aircraft was transferred to Neubiberg air base in Germany where it ended up as scrap metal.

COL C

P-51D-15, Flt. Off. Charles A. Lane, 99th FS, 332nd FG, 15th AF, Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945

Charles Lane, a St. Louis, Missouri, native started his pilot training in 1943 in Tuskegee, Alabama. After its completion he was ordered to 99th FS where, until the end of war, he completed 26 missions on P-47 and P-51. He continued in the military career after the war and spent altogether 27 years flying fighters, transports and even B-52 bombers. In 1970 he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He passed away in 2016. Same as the other sister squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group, the 99th Fighter Squadron aircraft marking was the rear fuselage and tail surfaces painted in eye-catching overall red which helped the crews of the escorted bombers to recognize their own fighters. The marking gave the unit the nickname Red Tails.

COL D

P-51D-25, s/n 44-72671, 2nd Lt. William Saks, 457th FS, 506th FG, 20th AF, Iwo Jima, June 1945

2nd Lt. William Saks is better known among historians for his Mustang’s decoration than his combat achievements and enemy aircraft kills. In the ranks of 457th Fighter Squadron he participated in the B-29 bombers escort sorties which were devastating Japanese islands and in the whole 506th FG Mustang fleet raids against the logistical centers and other military targets in Japan. His fate was sealed on June 1, 1945, when returning to Iwo Jima he perished together with another eleven pilots of his unit due to bad weather. The day is therefore called Black Friday in 506th FG records. William Saks flew this mission with aircraft 44-72885. Tails of the 457th FS aircraft were sprayed in green color for better recognition during the long range escort flights. 2nd Lt. Saks named his aircraft Enchantress. There was a sparsely-clad girl painted under the windshield inspired by Albert Varga’s artwork.