1/144 P-51D Mustang Red Nose - Classic Aircraft RRIII

When W.W.II. Allied commanders determined that a relentless strategic bombing campaign would cripple the Germans, they had little concept of the losses they would suffer. On 17th August 1943, 60 American bombers were lost. The following month another 60 were lost in a single day. Such heavy losses to Luftwaffe pilots continued . . . until an Allied fighter could escort the bombers into enemy territory and bring them home again. Enter the North American P-51 Mustang, affectionately nicknamed by the bomber crews: "their little friends."

The P-51 was designed and built in the USA, not because of any US requirement, but to meet RAF specifications.  Incredibly, the Mustang was designed and rolled out in 117 days, first taking to the air in October 1940. US approval for export to Britain required that two examples be turned over to the USAAF for evaluation. However, the US was ‘very’ slow to evaluate the new fighter.  Afterwards, they were also slow to place orders. . . .

Although the aircraft had great potential with its exceptional internal fuel capacity and low drag, it was limited due to its US Allison engine and was therefore relegated primarily to ground attack and reconnaissance roles. Finally, the British turned off the cautious attitude toward the Mustang by installing the Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine. When this was achieved in 1942, including the addition of a four-bladed propeller, the Mustang exceeded 400 mph, and so began gaining its final, fearful reputation. These transformations produced a fighter that equalled and outperformed all other aircraft at the time.  When the bubble canopy was introduced into the P-51D, the aircraft took on its now famous appearance.

More than 15,000 were built from 1940-1945. The P-51D variant featured here, was the most produced and most favoured by many pilots.