Current and Finished Projects > Aero-space

P-51 Mustang III/NF, 644 Squadron, RAF

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The Rat:


644 Squadron was officially formed on the 23rd of February, 1944, in preparation for Operation Overlord, but the number had already been used, unofficially, in 1941. In order to determine the feasability of using the well-proven Mustang in the night-fighter role, some Mustang III aircraft, fitted with the Malcolm Hood, were painted in an all black camouflage.



Trials, and combat, showed that, while much more manoeuverable and faster than the Boulton Paul Defiant, the imminent arrival of Defiants equipped with airborne interception radar would probably be the equal of the Mustang in terms of effectiveness, and they were released back to day fighter squadrons. It is not known how many kills were recorded during their 2 week operation, but one must assume that it was not impressive enough to change future plans. The code letters FE were used by the aircraft involved, and retained when 644 was officially formed a few years later.





Kit is the Academy P-51C, released with the markings for the Tuskegee Airmen. Those decals were used on other 'what if?' projects, and a good thing too; they were CRAP! I wouldn't want to sully the legacy of those brave men by making replicas of their aircraft with such shoddy markings. Paint is Tamiya X-1 gloss black, with Tamiya XF-86 flat clear, decals from various scrap pieces in the bin.

Jeffry Fontaine:
Nice back story and finished model to go with it.  Certainly a step up from some of the other "vintage" kits you have been working on. 

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