KITS 12/2019

MARKING OPTIONS

Mustang Mk.IVA, KH774, Fl/Lt. Ellis F. Blanchford, No. 112 Squadron RAF,

No. 239 Wing RAF, Italy, April 1945

No. 112 Squadron history dates back to Worl War One period, it had been established in June 1917

at Throwley aerodrome in Kent with the mission to protect London against enemy raids. Before the World

War Two outbreak it was sent to Egypt to protect this territory in the case of a conflict. Later it participated in the defense of Greece during the German invasion of the country, battles on the African hot soil

and later in Sicily and Italy. During July 1941 the unit received the American P-40 aircraft on which, inspired by Bf-110 aircraft from ZG 76, sharkmouths were painted. This practice lasted until the re-equipment

to Mustang Mk.III in June 1944. In February the unit received newer Mustangs Mk.IV which it flew until the

end of hostilities. During the World War Two pilots of this unit shot down 206 enemy aircraft and destroyed further 62 on the ground. Mustang camouflaged in British colors of Dark Green and Ocean Gray on

the upper and side surfaces sports the sharkmouth on the nose, typical for No. 112 Squadron aircraft. The

lower surfaces were painted in Medium Sea Gray.

Mustang Mk.IVA, KH729, flown by S/Ldr Mitchell Johnston, No. 442 „Caribou“ Squadron RCAF,

RAF station Digby, United Kingdom, June 1945

442nd Squadron was activated in 1942 as No. 14 Squadron flying P-40 aircraft with the mission to

defend the Canadian western coast againt the potential Japanese attack against Canadian territory

after the Pearl Harbor attack. During its mission to prepare for the landing on Japanese-occupied island

of Kiska, pilots of this unit were flying out of the Alaska airfields. Later it was re-numbered to No. 442

Squadron and dispatched to Great Britain where if flew Mustangs Mk.IV on the long-range sorties escorting heavy bombers on their raids to the targets in Germany and occupied Europe. During World War

Two the unit recorded 58 aerial kills and in addition destroyed hundreds of transports utilized by German

war machine to move troops or supplies to the battle fields. The last unit’s sortie was the Navy force escort

during the Norman Islands liberation on May 9th, 1945. The unit was disbanded after the end of war.

RAF marked P-51Ks manufactured at Dallas factory in Texas as Mustang Mk.IV. Code letters and unit

insignia above British marking on vertical tail surface confirm that the aircraft belonged to No. 442

Squadron RCAF. James E. Storrar logged several flights in this particular airplane.

INFO Eduard - December 2019

eduard

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