The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kindelberger of North American Aviation (NAA) in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The commission approached NAA to build Curtiss P-40 fighters and the newer P-46 under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Rather than build an old design from another company, NAA proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter. The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on September 9th, 1940, 102 days after the contract was signed, and first flew on October 26th.

The Mustang was designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine without an export-sensitive turbosupercharger or a multi-stage supercharger, resulting in limited high-altitude performance. The aircraft was first flown operationally and very successfully by the RAF and as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I). In mid 1942, Rolls Royce replaced the Allison with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 65, two-stage intercooled supercharged engine, resulting in a series of development aircraft known as the Mustang X. During testing at Hucknall, it quickly became clear that this dramatically improved the aircraft's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft (4,600 m) (without sacrificing range). Following receipt of the test results and after further flights by a number of USAAF pilots, the results were so positive that North American began work on converting several aircraft and these were developed into the P-51B/C (Mustang Mk III) model, which became the first long range fighter to be able to compete with the Luftwaffe's fighters. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the two-speed, two-stage-supercharged Merlin 66, and was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USAAF North American P-51D Mustang fighter that was piloted by John Landers, and nicknamed "Big Beautiful Doll", which was attached to the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, then deployed to RAF Duxford, England, during December 1944. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-3/4-inches
Length: 5-inches

Release Date: January 2024

Historical Account: "From Longhorns to Dolls" - John Dave Landers (August 2nd, 1920 - September 12th, 1989) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces. He flew with the 9th Fighter Squadron in the Pacific commanded the 357th Fighter Group and the 78th Fighter Group during World War II.

By January 1942, Landers was posted to the 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group in Australia, flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. He named his P-40, "Texas Longhorn". With only 10 flying hours, he embarked on his first combat missions over the Pacific.

Landers was assigned to the 38th Fighter Squadron of the 55th Fighter Group at RAF Wormingford in April 1944. Landers continued to score aerial victories against Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Me 410 over France and Germany, first in the P-38 and then the North American P-51D Mustang, after the 55th FG converted in July 1944. Replica of Landers' aircraft

Promoted from Captain to Major, he took command of the 38th FS. During this time he was involved in what is regarded as the longest fighter escort mission. His flight accompanied heavy bombers on a 1,600-mile sortie over Poland and spent approximately seven hours in flight. While with the 38th FS, he destroyed an additional two enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus one damaged.

Newly promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Landers was temporarily assigned as commanding officer of the 357th Fighter Group between October and December 1944 at RAF Leiston. Landers also destroyed one enemy aircraft, while flying with the 357th. He returned to the U.S. in December 1944, and returned to Europe in February 1945.

In February 1945, Landers took command of the 78th Fighter Group at RAF Duxford. He was credited in destroying another 3.5 enemy aircraft in the air, including a shared victory over a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. From July 1945 until the war's end, he commanded the 361st Fighter Group from July 1945 until his return to the U.S. in October 1945. Landers left active duty in December 1945. During the war, Landers was credited with destroying a total 14.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus one damaged, and 20 more on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. He flew several P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang aircraft that were named "Big Beautiful Doll."