Markings for P-51D-5 Mustang 1/72

44-13691, Lt. Arval J. Roberson, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, September 1944

Arval James Roberson was born on November 14, 1923, at Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana, USA. He joined the Army Reserves on June 15, 1942, and on May 20 of the same year as a rated pilot he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. He transferred to 362nd FS, 357th FG, where he flew 76 missions during his operation tour. He achieved six aerial victories confirmed plus one probable, the last two of them scored with the Mustang P-51D named Passion Wagon. Roberson later served in Korean War with 12th FBS, 18th FBG. He flew 100 combat missions there. During Vietnam War, he served as Liaison Officer to the VN JCS and he also flew 26 support missions with C-47s. He was promoted to Colonel on August 26, 1966, served as the last commander of the Otis AB and retired from Air Force on March 1, 1973. Arval Roberson passed away on December 7, 2007, (aged 84).

44-13737, Lt. Anton Walace, 486th FS, 352nd FG, 8th AF, Bodney, UK, June 1944

The Mustang serial number 44-13737 was one of the first P-51Ds to be assigned to the 352nd FG in July 1944. This aircraft was fitted with the black code letters PZ-W and assigned to Lt. Anton J. Wallace, a member of the 486th FS, who had the inscription “Little Rebel” painted on the left side of the engine cowling, name previously carried by his P-47 and P-51B aircraft. The “Little Rebel” was initially flown in the original D-5 block state, i.e. without the additional dorsal fin of the vertical stabilizer. The additional installation of the fin occurred in the fall of 1944. In November 1944, after Wallace’s second operational tour, Lt. Charles “Buck” Pattillo, took over the “Little Rebel” and decided to keep the name on the aircraft. However, the lettering was repainted. The white and black design was replaced by creamy one with a red outline. It is not known whether the change occurred while the aircraft was still in use by Wallace or after Pattillo took over. 

44-13309, Maj. Evan McCall, 380th FS, 363rd FG, 9th AF, Maupertus airfield, Cherbourg, France, July 1944

Maj. Evan McCall named all his aircraft Fool’s Paradise. Those with numbers I and II were P-39 Airacobras he flew at Hamilton Field, California. During the war, in addition to his role as a fighter pilot, he was also deployed with Patton’s 3rd Armoured Division as a forward air navigator during the fighting in France until shortly before the Battle of the Bulge, when he returned to his unit and to flying. Although he did not become a fighter ace, he was one of the very experienced pilots and tested all American and most British single-seat fighter aircraft during his combat career.  His Fool’s Paradise IV already had the invasion stripes on the upper surfaces washed off in July. Instead, all that was left was the base Olive Drab paint, which had been eroded in many places by the process of washing the black and white stripes. There were also visible residue of the stripes. The same was true for the ridge area of the fuselage behind the canopy. 

P-51D-5, 44-13494, Lt. Walter J. Goehausen Jr., 308th FS, 31st FG, 15th AF, San Severo, Italy, summer 1944

Walter John Goehausen was born on June 20, 1921, in St. Louis, Missouri. After his pilot training he was ordered to the 308th FS and while flying combat with it he scored ten kills of the enemy aircraft. After the previous deployment with VIII Fighter Command in Great Britain the 308th Fighter Squadron was sent to Africa within the 31st FG under the 12th AF command. Here this unit took part in the support of the landings in Sicily, then at Salerno and at Anzio. In Great Britain its pilots flew Spitfires Mk.V but during the Africa fighting they converted to the modern Spitfires Mk.VIII and Mk.IX. In April 1944 the 308th FS (together with the other 31st FG squadrons) was re-equipped with Mustangs which they flew within the 15th AF escorting the four-engined bombers over targets in occupied Europe and Germany as well. Besides the oblique red stripes, the markings of the 31st FG aircraft, his Mustang, nicknamed Miss Mimi II, also carried the yellow stripes on the wings and the tail surfaces introduced in March 1943 as the marking of the American fighters operating in the Mediterranean.