North American P-51D Mustang Mk.IV – Dooleybird, Joe Doley, 19 Sqn RAF 1945 1/48

Hobbymaster 1/48 scale HA7749: North American P-51D Mustang Mk.IV Dooleybird flown by F/L Arthur S. Joe Doley, 19 Squadron, RAF, late 1945. Production run of 360 models

Length 8 inches Wingspan 9.25 inches

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.

During WWII F/L Arthur S. Joe Doley flew Spitfires and Hurricanes with 610 and 87 Squadrons of the RAF. In February 1945 he transferred to 19 Squadron flying P-51 Mustangs on long range operations over the North Sea. Over time salt would make the aircraft look worn so Doleys Mustang was sent for an overhaul and replaced by a new natural metal Mustang Mk.IV KM272 / QV-V. Doley had Dooleybird painted on the left side of the fuselage along with a blue and white spinner and engine cowling.