Dennette's WW-II Aircraft:
P-51 Mustang

The P-51 Mustang is probably the most commony recognized WWII fighter, and is one of my favorites for several reasons. You can fly both the "B" and "D" versions in the filight simulator Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe (SWOTL). I have models of both in just about every scale. :-)

Mustang Variations - differences between the P-51B and P-51-D
Mustangs of the 15th Air Force - differences in tail markings

This is my print of "Two Down, One To Go", showing the second of three aerial victories in a single mission by a Tuskegee Airman.

This is my 1:32 "Phantom Mustang" (held together with rubber bands on 1995-08-06), which I have since detailed like the one in the painting above ... click to read the story.

This is a detail from the painting "Little Friends" that shows red-tailed P-51B Mustangs (piloted by Tuskegee Airmen) escorting B-17s over the Italian Alps.

1998-08-19 - I've been getting inquiries about tail markings for P-51s flown by Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd FG, so here are the styles for the two main variations. One is a "stair-step" edging, the other is a diagonal line.

Tuskegee Airmen tail markings

Fighters of the 15th Air Force had a distinctive red nose. The 332nd Fighter Group had distinctive red tails. Colored rudder trim tabs were the Squadron distinctive markings as follows:

99th FS - blue
100th FS - black or red
301st FS - white
302nd FS - yellow

Most of this information comes from "Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Vol. VII: Mustang Aces of the Ninth & fifteenth Air Forces & the RAF" by Jerry Scutts (ISBN 1 85532 583 7), which has very nice color illustrations. You can get a copy from Squadron Mail Order.

Dennette's WW-II Aircraft: P-51 Mustang

See also: Thunder Mustang for the 75% replica kits by Papa 51 Ltd. Co.

Dennette's WW-II Aircraft:
P-51 Mustang