P-51B Ding Hao! 356 FS "Red Ass" 354 FG RAF Boxted Classic White Print
Images are reduced fidelity for copyright protection.
A quantum performance leap from its predecessors, the P-51B was the first Merlin powered Mustang. The B’s had an extra fuel tank which greatly increased their range and the Merlin performed far better at altitude. The USAAF finally had the long-range escort fighter it needed
The first Mustang unit in the ETO was the 354 FG which was, coincidentally, also the highest scoring FG in the ETO with 701 victories. Their first long range escort mission occurred on 11 January, 1944 and was quite noteworthy. On that mission, AJ+J was piloted by Maj James Howard, then the 354 FG commander, and with her, he earned the only Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to an ETO fighter pilot.
Howard's group was to rendezvous a formation of over 500 US bombers as they egressed a target west of Berlin and protect them until relieved by another unit closer to England. With an estimated 500 total German fighters mixed up with the bombers, Howard took his group towards the lead section of 25 bombers defending themselves from 30-40 German fighters.After quickly engaging three and downing two enemy fighters, Howard realized he was separated from his flight that was flowing to the rear bomber formation. He began to flow there as well when he realized the lead bombers were still heavily engaged and without any escort. Howard turned, single handedly, back towards the lead group. He engaged and remained engaged with enemy fighters for 30 minutes protecting the bombers even after all three of his four guns had jammed. He was credited with 4 victories that day.
Howard’s Mustang is shown ready for another mission with a pair of 110 gallon “paper” external wing tanks and her 4 x .50 caliber machine guns.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
Images are reduced fidelity for copyright protection.
A quantum performance leap from its predecessors, the P-51B was the first Merlin powered Mustang. The B’s had an extra fuel tank which greatly increased their range and the Merlin performed far better at altitude. The USAAF finally had the long-range escort fighter it needed
The first Mustang unit in the ETO was the 354 FG which was, coincidentally, also the highest scoring FG in the ETO with 701 victories. Their first long range escort mission occurred on 11 January, 1944 and was quite noteworthy. On that mission, AJ+J was piloted by Maj James Howard, then the 354 FG commander, and with her, he earned the only Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to an ETO fighter pilot.
Howard's group was to rendezvous a formation of over 500 US bombers as they egressed a target west of Berlin and protect them until relieved by another unit closer to England. With an estimated 500 total German fighters mixed up with the bombers, Howard took his group towards the lead section of 25 bombers defending themselves from 30-40 German fighters.After quickly engaging three and downing two enemy fighters, Howard realized he was separated from his flight that was flowing to the rear bomber formation. He began to flow there as well when he realized the lead bombers were still heavily engaged and without any escort. Howard turned, single handedly, back towards the lead group. He engaged and remained engaged with enemy fighters for 30 minutes protecting the bombers even after all three of his four guns had jammed. He was credited with 4 victories that day.
Howard’s Mustang is shown ready for another mission with a pair of 110 gallon “paper” external wing tanks and her 4 x .50 caliber machine guns.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.