P-51D "Missouri Armada" 362 FS "Yoxford Boys" 357 FG, RAF Leiston PrintS
Images are reduced fidelity for copyright protection.
The most recognizable Mustang is the P-51D with its bubble canopy… in fact, over half of all Mustang’s built were D’s. Beyond the cut down rear fuselage and bubble canopy, the D-model was significantly changed from the B’s and C’s that preceded it.
The D’s windscreen was simplified to provide better visibility. The wings were significantly redesigned featuring a deeper chord –allowing the 50-caliber machine guns to be mounted vertically providing room to increase the armament to 6 guns – and a small leading edge extension at the root was incorporated to house an updated landing gear system.
The engine was the same as in the B/C version which – combined with the deeper chord wing and higher drag canopy design – resulted in a slightly reduced maximum level flight speed and service ceiling… given the increased firepower and visibility, it was overall a welcome trade off.
The D’s kept the B/C model 85-gallon fuselage fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat, and inherited the same slow speed snap roll tendency of the Razorback’s. Additionally, the reduced fuselage side area (keel, if you will) created a yaw stability problem for the bubble canopy planes. To help with both issues, a design change incorporating a leading edge extension to the base of the vertical stabilizer was introduced in summer 1944. All planes manufactured prior to the change we retrofitted in the field.
Some external lighting updates were introduced as well as a new gun sight and a tail warning radar system was fitted.
The red/yellow spinner stripes and checkerboard pattern on the nose in this original digital artwork indicate this plane 357th Fighter Group that operated out of RAF Leiston in south east England during WWII, and the G4 fuselage code identifies this as a 362 Fighter Squadron plane. These 8th Air Force units were among the “Little Friends” that escorted heavy bombers on their missions over Europe.
Plane “E” belonged to ace Capt John England was credited with 17.5 victories by war’s end. He was also the Squadron Commander and among his decorations were a Silver Star and multiple Distinguished Flying Crosses and Air Medals. Following the war, then Major England transitioned to the newly formed US Air Force flying in the US and briefly during the Korea Conflict.
After transitioning to the F-86, then Lt Col England was involved in a landing accident in France in 1954. Faced with ejecting or maintaining control of the jet to prevent it from crashing into barracks on the base, England chose the latter which cost him his life. For his gallant actions, England AFB in Louisiana was named in his honor.
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.
The most recognizable Mustang is the P-51D with its bubble canopy… in fact, over half of all Mustang’s built were D’s. Beyond the cut down rear fuselage and bubble canopy, the D-model was significantly changed from the B’s and C’s that preceded it.
The D’s windscreen was simplified to provide better visibility. The wings were significantly redesigned featuring a deeper chord –allowing the 50-caliber machine guns to be mounted vertically providing room to increase the armament to 6 guns – and a small leading edge extension at the root was incorporated to house an updated landing gear system.
The engine was the same as in the B/C version which – combined with the deeper chord wing and higher drag canopy design – resulted in a slightly reduced maximum level flight speed and service ceiling… given the increased firepower and visibility, it was overall a welcome trade off.
The D’s kept the B/C model 85-gallon fuselage fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat, and inherited the same slow speed snap roll tendency of the Razorback’s. Additionally, the reduced fuselage side area (keel, if you will) created a yaw stability problem for the bubble canopy planes. To help with both issues, a design change incorporating a leading edge extension to the base of the vertical stabilizer was introduced in summer 1944. All planes manufactured prior to the change we retrofitted in the field.
Some external lighting updates were introduced as well as a new gun sight and a tail warning radar system was fitted.
The red/yellow spinner stripes and checkerboard pattern on the nose in this original digital artwork indicate this plane 357th Fighter Group that operated out of RAF Leiston in south east England during WWII, and the G4 fuselage code identifies this as a 362 Fighter Squadron plane. These 8th Air Force units were among the “Little Friends” that escorted heavy bombers on their missions over Europe.
Plane “E” belonged to ace Capt John England was credited with 17.5 victories by war’s end. He was also the Squadron Commander and among his decorations were a Silver Star and multiple Distinguished Flying Crosses and Air Medals. Following the war, then Major England transitioned to the newly formed US Air Force flying in the US and briefly during the Korea Conflict.
After transitioning to the F-86, then Lt Col England was involved in a landing accident in France in 1954. Faced with ejecting or maintaining control of the jet to prevent it from crashing into barracks on the base, England chose the latter which cost him his life. For his gallant actions, England AFB in Louisiana was named in his honor.
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.