Hobby Master 1/48 HA8502 Mustang Mk.III 9G-E, 441 Squadron, RCAF, May 1945
Hobby Master 1/48 Mustang Mk.III 9G-E, 441 Squadron, RCAF, May 1945 HA8502
Hobbymaster HA8502 1/48th Diecast Model of the RCAF Mustang World War 2 Fighter.
The only difference between the North American P-51B and C variants was the B was built in Inglewood and the C in Dallas. The B variant first flew on May 5, 1943 and the C variant first flew on August 5, 1943. The B variant saw 1,988 built while the C variant saw 1,750 built. On December 1, 1943 the P-51B Mustang flew its first combat mission and in March 1944 provided bomber escort to Berlin. The high shape of the P-51B/C dorsal spine gave it the name “Razorback”.
Don Gentile like some other great pilots was rejected by the U.S. Military so he joined the RCAF in Canada. Gentile was assigned to the No. 133 Eagle Squadron flying Spitfires. Eventually he transferred to the USAAF along with the rest of the Eagle Squadron. Gentile had scored 6.33 kills before converting to the P-51 and scoring another 15.5 aerial kills plus 6 ground victories. Returning from his last mission Gentile flew too low on a low pass and struck the runway breaking the P-51Bs “Shangri-La” back.