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

United Kingdom, September 1944

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

Bodney, UK, June 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).

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.

KITS 04/2025

INFO Eduard

April 2025

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Editorial
Good day, Dear Friends After the February premiere and the March sequel of the P-40E, it's time for what was probably the most significant foe of the Warhawks, the Japanese Zero. The last new release of a member of the Zero family, the Rufe float version, was exactly two years ago, in April 2023.
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KAMIKAZE TOKKŌTAI
One of the most well-known words from the field of aviation, recognized even by those with no interest in the subject, is kamikaze. It is associated with the predominantly aerial campaign that began in October 1944 and lasted until the end of the war in the Pacific. During this period, hundreds of airmen sacrificed their lives in service of the Japanese Empire.
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Dekelia Greek Air Force Museum
The Hellenic Air Force Museum is a relatively young institution, having existed in its current form since 1986. However, it certainly has a lot to build on, as its aviation collections were previously part of the Hellenic War Museum. The museum is organisationally under the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) administration and its mission is not only historical research, collection, preservation and access to exhibits, but also the retrieval, conservation and restoration of artefacts related to Greek aviation history.
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Aerial War in Ukraine - The First Mirage 2000s Have Arrived
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began three years ago, on February 24, 2022. This continuation of the series does not only cover the most recent period from February 1, 2025, to February 28, 2025, but also recaps events from the past year. However, we will start with the most significant updates—developments on the global political scene.
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Like a Painting on Canvas
Market Garden was the largest Allied airborne operation of World War II, launched on 17 September 1944 in the Netherlands. Its objective was to use paratroopers (the "Market" component) and the rapid advance of ground forces (the "Garden" component) to seize key bridges over rivers and canals, thereby creating a corridor for an attack into Germany. However, the operation ultimately failed due to strong German resistance, poor coordination, and delays in the Allied advance, particularly at Arnhem, where British paratroopers were unable to hold a crucial bridge.
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Tail End Charlie - Almost an April problem
It's not entirely my fault that I’m writing my Tail End Charlie text at the last-minute again. I scheduled my work quite responsibly yesterday, Sunday, two days before the current issue was due out. However, somehow I didn't keep up at the end of the day. Understandably, I could blame my slow work, my tendency to run away from responsibilities, orstimuli that release the right hormones into my brain for the wrong mood, and a thousand other things rooted solely in my nature, irresponsibility, and laziness. But this time it's different my friends.
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Editorial
KAMIKAZE TOKKŌTAI
Dekelia Greek Air Force Museum
Aerial War in Ukraine
July Stirlings
Like a Painting on Canvas
Markings for KAMIKAZE TOKKŌTAI 1/48
Markings for Spitfire Mk.IIa 1/48
Markings for P-51D-5 Mustang 1/72
Tail End Charlie

Info EDUARD