P-51D Mustang - Major Ray Wetmore, 370th FS, 359th FG, 1945, 1:48 Hobby Master HM-HA7748

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P-51D Mustang - Major Ray Wetmore, 370th FS, 359th FG, 1945

P-51D Mustang - Major Ray Wetmore, 370th FS, 359th FG, 1945

$119.95

SKU:

HM-HA7748

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Hobby Master

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Hobby Master 1:48 HA7748
P-51D Mustang - Major Ray Wetmore, 370th FS, 359th FG, 1945

Scale:
1:48 Length:
5.25" Width:
6.25" Composition:
Diecast SKU:
HM-HA7748 Period:
World War II

Hobby Master 1:48 HA7748 P-51D Mustang - Major Ray Wetmore, 370th FS, 359th FG, 1945
Scale: 1:48	Length: 5.25"	Width: 6.25"	Composition: Diecast	SKU: HM-HA7748	Period: World War II

Historical Note:

Later in WWII the Allied bombers were flying deep into Germany but suffered tremendous losses because of the lack of range the fighter escorts had. German fighters would wait beyond the range of the Allied fighters and then attack the vulnerable bombers. Once the P-51 called Mustang by the British had the Allison engine replaced with a British Merlin it possessed the high performance that had been lacking. With drop tanks the P-51 had the range to escort bombers all the way to Berlin and back. The 2nd FS as the 2nd Pursuit Squadron and later renamed the 2nd FS assigned to the 52nd FG. The unit was sent to England as part of the 8th Air Force and in 1943 was equipped with Spitfires to escort bombers. Desperate for fighters in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations the 52nd FG / 2nd FS were sent to fill the need. In April 1944 the Spitfires were replaced by P-51 Mustangs. One pilot was Captain Fred Ohr credited with 6 victories, 1 in a Spitfire and 5 in his Mustang 44-13298 “Marie”.

Info: P-51D Mustang - Major Ray Wetmore, 370th FS, 359th FG, 1945

Product Videos

What made the P-51 Mustang so special? (12:47)

In 1940, Britain was fighting for its life against the Luftwaffe. British aircraft manufacturers couldn't keep up with the huge orders placed by the British Government. So they turned to American manufacturers like Curtiss and North American. Eventually, North American came forward with their own design for a brand new aeroplane. The prototype was brought to the Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) at what is now IWM Duxford. It had great potential with a low-drag fuselage and laminar flow wing. But the Allison V12 engine which powered the aircraft struggled above 15,000 ft. So the AFDU decided to try the aircraft with a Rolls Royce Merlin instead. That aircraft became one of the greatest fighters of the Second World War - the P-51 Mustang. The P-51 could fly and fight with British and American bombers all the way to Berlin and back again. Its range was so large that it even began to replace British Spitfires towards the end of the war. On their way back from escort duty Mustangs would also take out targets of opportunity like enemy trucks, barges, and trains. By 1944 the Allies had air superiority over Western Europe, thanks in part to the Mustang. See our Mustangs up close! Visit IWM Duxford: https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford Find out how the Second World War was fought from the air: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-the-second-world-war-was-fought-from-the-air See the full list of archive films used in this video, available for licensing and downloading: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/2571 War in the Air book: https://shop.iwm.org.uk/p/26905/War-In-The-Air---The-Second-World-War-in-Colour