Markings for P-51B/C with dorsal fin 1/48

P-51B-1-NA, s/n 43-12375, Capt. Don M. Beerbower, 353rd FS, 354th FG, 9th AF, A-2 Cricqueville, France, June 1944

Don Merrill Beerbower named his Mustang, which he flew with the 353rd FS, 354th FG, in honor of his daughter Bonnie B. He flew his first combat mission on December 1, 1943 and scored his first victory over a Bf 109 on January 5, 1944. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on January 15, 1944 and achieved ace status on February 20, 1944, by shooting down another Bf 109. After the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, the unit moved to Cricqueville airfield, a forward field airfield in Normandy, northern France. Beerbower became a double ace on August 8, 1944, after achieving his tenth victory. Although fellow pilots were switching to the newer P-51Ds, Beerbower decided to keep his B version aircraft because it was lighter, had higher speed as well as climb rate and better maneuverability. Beerbower scored his last victory on July 7, 1944, which he achieved by shooting down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, bringing his total number of aerial victories to 15. He destroyed two more aircraft on the ground. On August 9, 1944, Beerbower led his squadron on an armed reconnaissance mission during which he located an enemy airfield. To test air defensive capabilities, he conducted an attack, destroying an enemy aircraft and an AA position. On the second attack his aircraft received hits to the wing and fuselage. Unfortunately, he struck the tail surfaces while exiting the aircraft on a parachute and was tragically killed. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star for his last mission.

P-51C-10-NT, s/n 43-25054, Lt. Robert M. Scott, 79th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF, Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, November 1944

A Mustang of four forms, that’s what you could call the color history of this P-51C s/n 43-25054. At the start, when the aircraft lacked the fin, Lt. W. H. Lewis was flying it. At that time, the aircraft was camouflaged with Olive Drab paint on the upper surfaces and bore the inscription Hells Belle and a small devil painting. After the fin was applied and the Olive Drab camouflage was partially removed especially in the fuselage area, the aircraft received black and white stripes on the nose and the Beaverhead Filly lettering was painted on the port side. The Mustang thus painted was flown by Lt. Keith C. Price, who scored his only kill in it. Lt. Robert M. Scott was the next pilot to take over this aircraft and had the inscription Shoot You’re Faded painted on the port side of its engine cowling. The inscription Berties Bet was later added. Throughout its wartime career, this Mustang was cared for by the same mechanic and armorer, Sgt. E. Schrader and Sgt. A. Kublin. Under their care, this Mustang flew over 700 hours during the war and lived to see the end of it. It finally crashed near Munich after the war.

Mustang Mk.III, s/n FZ111, F/L Mieczysław Gorzula, No. 309 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Andrews Field, United Kingdom, April-May 1945

F/Lt Mieczysław Gorzula was one of the few British RAF pilots flying Mustang aircraft who managed to shoot down a Me 262 jet fighter in aerial combat at the end of World War II. On April 9, 1945, while escorting Lancaster bombers heading for Hamburg, he led a blue section of three Mustangs as commander of B Flight of No. 309 Squadron. Soon after the bombers left the target the formation was attacked by several Me 262s. Gorzula managed to approach one of them and shoot it down. His Mustang Mk.III serial number FZ111, which he regularly flew, bore a drawing of his beloved Englishwoman Jean on the left side of the nose.

P-51B-15-NA, s/n 43-24877, Lt. Harold P. Kick, 325th FS, 318th FG, 15th AF, Lesina, Italy, November 1944

The ace with six victories and 325th FS commander Roy Burton Hogg was flying Mustang number 69, named Penrod. Captain Hogg joined the 325th FS in March 1943 and recorded his victories with three different types of aircraft (two with the P-40, two with the P-47 and two with this Mustang). After the unit was partially re-equipped with the new D version Mustangs, Lt. Harold Kick took over the aircraft and renamed it Chinese Laundry. This inscription adorned the left side of the engine cowling, with the great It’s a Dog inscription on the right side. It was one of the last three P-51Bs left in service with the 15th AF.

P-51C-10 NT, s/n 44-11096, 26th FS, 51st FG, 14th AF, Kunming, China, 1944

Mustangs of the 26th FS carried the typical shark’s mouth and were often decorated with various inscriptions. The 51st Fighter Group spent most of World War II defending both ends of an air supply route between India and China called The Hump. The unit was activated in January 1941, almost a year before the Americans entered the war. It was one of the first groups sent from the United States to India after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In September 1942, it moved to Dinjan, Assam, and began operations in October. Dinjan was within range of Japanese aircraft, so the 51st FG spent part of the period defending supply routes and its own bases. It also took part in the fighting during the Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943. In October 1943, the 51st FG was transferred to the 14th AF in China. Its mission was to defend the Chinese end of The Hump and also to support the Chinese Army. It also carried out attacks on Japanese ships. The unit returned to India in September 1945 and to the United States in November.

P-51C, Lt. G. J. Kaplanek and L. D. Monaghan, 118th TRS, 23rd FG, 14th AF, Chengkung, China, May 1945

The history of the 118th TRS, in the form of the 118th Aero Squadron, began on August 31, 1917, when it flew in France. In 1923, it was redesignated as the 118th Observation Squadron within the Connecticut National Guard. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, its activities consisted of anti-submarine patrolling off the Atlantic coast. In August 1942, it was withdrawn from that tasking and prepared for deployment overseas. In October 1943, already as the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, it was assigned to the 23rd Fighter Group, flying as part of the 14th AF over the CBI (China-Burma-India) area. There it operated first with P-40s in the defense of airfields in India, from which B-29s operated. On its return to the US, it was reassigned to the Connecticut Air National Guard. The unit is still active, now flying as the 118th Airlift Squadron with C-130H Hercules aircraft. The distinguishing feature of the 118th TRS Mustangs was the black, yellow-lined lightning bolt on the fuselage and small lightning bolts on the wing tips. The machine with the number 586 on the stern bore the inscription Dottie’N’Butch on the left side of the engine cowl and Roxie on the right side of it. The upper surfaces of the fuselage and wings were camouflaged with Olive Drab paint and the surface was heavily weathered.