Hobby Master 1/48 HA7729a P-51D Mustang 414450, Capt C. E. Bud Anderson, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 1944

Captain C.E. Bud Anderson served two combat tours with the 363rd FS/357th FG during WWII. The 357th FG was stationed at RAF Leiston, England and Anderson flew a P-51D s/n 44-14450 B6-S (B6 signified the 363rd FS) adorned with his familiar Old Crow nickname. Bud flew 44- 14450 on 66 missions and added 11 1/4 aerial victories to his total. Bud Anderson never had to abort a mission and his aircraft never suffered a hit from enemy aircraft and he returned state side in February 1945 as a Major.

 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.