P-51D Missouri Armada
Definitely I have no luck with the Eduard kit of P-51D in 1/48 scale. This is third one I receive and finally the first one to be completed build and review. I will not bother you much about the same kit, no doubt that you have seen many reviews by now. This one is 1/48 scale, stock number 84184 and released as weekend edition. This mean just basic kit, as many others manufacturers of plastic kit do. Nice art box cover very good content inside. Six frets hold all of the parts we need to use in build, one of those is in transparent plastic. There is also instructional leaflet and two sheet of decals, one for service markings and other one for national and unit insignia. There is four options for final kit, three are natural metal and one is camouflage painted. That one is my choice to built, flown by capt John England, P-51D-10-NA 44-14789 “Missouri Armada” Code: G4-E 357th FG – 366th FS
This machine is one of four machines he flew. Sample mentioned above is fourth and the last sample he flew and he completed over 30 missions over Germany. His final mission was 15 January 1945. John England first D Mustang was P-51D, 44-13735. He flew six shuttle mission to Soviet Union through 12 August, 1944. Subject of our story, 4414789, was ferried in mid September, 1944, to Leiston and was assigned to John England. Unlike his previous P-51’s, which had been coded G4-H, this one was G4-E. He flew it for the remainder of his long extended combat tour, which ended in January, 1945. It now had 18 of the distinctive 362nd Squadron victory symbols, for his total of 17.5 victories, only one off that of top group scorer, Kit Carson. After Major John England completed his extended combat tour in January of 1945, 44-14789 was assigned to pilot Lt. Tom Ridley, who re-named it Sad Sack, a poplar military cartoon character of the time. He flew it until 18 April, when he was shot down, the last 357th combat loss of the war. Ridley bailed out successful, and with the war over, soon re-joined the squadron. John England survived his long combat tour, but was killed in an F-86 accident in 1954, in France.
Its interesting camouflage painting of his Mustang. It is widely beleived that top side was in Olive Drab but it look like it is not. It is well known that P-38 Lightnings in Europe had Medium Green topside and preserved parts with camouflage paint from Mustangs also indicate similar color. Friend of mine has been interviewed foreman who worked in production of P-47 Thunderbolts and he sad that in one year they have 17 different shades of Olive Drab used in production. So its might to be that John England’s Mustang had some more intensice green color at the topside.
The P-51D-10-NA 44-14789, which would become ‘Missouri Armada’, arrived factory-fresh in bare metal with silver wings, none of them were ever painted camouflage from the factory. Most of the 357th FG pilots painted them in the field with the paint they had available. The 357th FG was based at Leiston, had a large stockpile of RAF paint which the 357th FG used to paint their airplanes with. They used whatever RAF paint that most closely matched USAAF Olive Drab and Neutral Grey. Preserved original piece of fabric from a 357th FG P-51B/C shows they used RAF Extra Dark Sea Green. Based on the B&W photos of ‘Missouri Armada’, that the aircraft could have been RAF Extra Dark Sea Green over RAF Ocean Grey. According to all of the 357th FG experts and historians, the 357th only used RAF paints on their aircraft.
On ‘Missouri Armada’, only markings that remained original were the stars & bars, original factory-applied stencils, including the data block on the side of the fuselage, were painted over. This aircraft had the D-Day invasion stripes applied on fuselage only. Reds and yellows used in the nose markings would have come from the RAF supply as well.
Must say that I have pleasure time while making this kit. Very detailed and very easy to build, definitely good choice to any Mustang lovers. Great thanks to Eduard for provided sample kit. You can find your sample here!
Srećko Bradić
