North American P-51D

USAAF 332nd FG, 301st FS Tuskegee Airmen, Creamer's Dream, Charles White, Ramitelli Airfield, Italie 1945

Hobby Master 1:48 HA7752

The Tuskegee Airmen of 332nd FG, or "Red Tails" as they were also known, were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. Charles White was accepted into the "Tuskegee Experiment" pilot program and trained at Moton Field on the campus of Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. After graduating he was rated as a fighter pilot with the rank of second lieutenant and sent overseas. He was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group base at Ramitelli air field in southern Italy. Upon arrival in September 1944 he was assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron and began flying combat missions. After joining the group as a replacement pilot, he had received a war-weary P-51C. White's complaints about its unreliability led his commanding officer to allocate this early P-51D directly to him. So inspired by the allocation, White painted a nude on both sides of the new fighter's fuselage, with an aft view to port and a front view to starboard.

North American P-51D Mustang
Designed to meet an RAF requirement for fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-51 Mustang was first flown on October 26th, 1940. This versatile aircraft was capable of escorting bombers on long-range missions, engaging in dogfights, and dropping down to destroy German targets on the ground. At least eight versions of the P-51 were produced, but it was the definitive P-51D that gave the Mustang its classic warbird appearance. Britain and the US both tested the airframe with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which gave the aircraft tremendous performance gains. The Truman Senate War Investigating Committee called the Mustang "the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence."

Hobby Master "1:48 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:

• Molded metal construction with plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Inscriptions and posters printed with a stamp that do not fade or fall off like decals.
• opening of awnings, revealing detailed within the cockpit.
• Extended / retracted interchangeable landing gear.
• Display stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Authentic detachable artillery cargoes complete with placards.