North American P-51 Mustang Mk.III – Eugeniusz Horbaczewski, 315 Sqn RAF 1944 1/48

Hobby Master 1/48 scale HA8513: North American P-51 Mustang Mk.III PK-G/FB382, flown by Eugeniusz Horbaczewski of 315 Squadron RAF in 1944. Production run of 500 models

Length: 8 inches Wingspan: 9.25 inches

Mustang FB 382 with PK-G markings was the personal aircraft of the 315 Squadron Eugeniusz ?Dziubek? Horbaczewski. On February 15, 1944 he took command of the No. 315 Squadron. On August 18, 1944 Horbaczewski led twelve aircraft over France. At an airfield near Beauvais they encountered a large formation of German Fw-190s. 315 Squadron attacked the Germans with Horbaczewski quickly downing 3 aircraft. However, sometime during the melee he went missing and in 1947 his aircraft and body were found. He is credited with 16.5 kills and downing 4 V-1s.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was a single-seat World War II fighter aircraft. First flown on October 26, 1940, the P-51 was designed and built in just 117 days. It flew most of its missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from 1944. As well as being economical to produce, the P-51 was a fast and durable aircraft.