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Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>P-51B>HA8503B

P-51B Mustang Capt. C.E. "Bud" Anderson, 363rd FS/357th FG, England, June 1944
HA8503B
General Background
The only difference between the North American P-51B and C variants was the B was built in Inglewood and the C in Dallas. The B variant first flew on May 5, 1943 and the C variant first flew on August 5, 1943. The B variant saw 1,988 built while the C variant saw 1,750 built. On December 1, 1943 the P-51B Mustang flew its first combat mission and in March 1944 provided bomber escort to Berlin.
The Aircraft
On June 6, 1944 near Leipzig, Germany while the 363rd FS/357th FG P-51B Mustangs were escorting B-17s on a bombing mission eight German Fw-190s came up to engage the bombers. The P-51s reacted and went after the Fw-190s with Capt. C.E. Bud Anderson unleashing a long- range volley eliminating the leader who bailed out. This time Anderson moved in closer on the second Fw-190 and set him ablaze. The third Fw-190 of the day for Bud came when the German failed to see him and flew directly in front of the P-51 with a predictable outcome. At the end of WWII Bud Anderson was credited with 16.25 victories, making him a triple ace.
Specifications :

Dimensions:

Length: 32.25 ft
Wingspan: 37.04 ft
Height: 13.67 ft
Weight
Empty: 6,985 lbs
Normal T/O: 9,800 lbs
Maximum Gross: 11,800 lbs
Performance
Power Plant: 1 X Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-3-7 producing 1,380 hp in the B variant and 1,490 hp in the C variant
Maximum Speed: 439 mph @ 25,000 ft
Service Ceiling: 41,800 ft
Range: B – 1,180 miles
C – 1,900 miles
Armament 4 x .50 cal machine guns with 1,260 rounds
2 x 1,000 lb bombs or rockets