Corgi AN32224 North American P-51D Mustang USAAF 78th FG, #44-72218 "Big Beautiful Doll", John Landers, Corgi 50th Anniversary Edition

Corgi AN32224 North American P-51D Mustang USAAF 78th FG, #44-72218 "Big Beautiful Doll", John Landers, Corgi 50th Anniversary Edition

Corgi, a well-known diecast model producer, celebrated 50 years of production with a limited edition model consisting of 2006 pieces. The model features a presentation display plinth, a hand-painted resin pilot figure, and replica pilot's notes for the aircraft. However, it does not come with a display stand and is intended for ground display only. The Mustang modelled is the 192nd among a batch of 3000 P-51Ds ordered on 7th June 1944, one day after D-Day, June 6th, 1944. It has call sign WZ-I, was coded with the nose art of Big Beautiful Doll, and was flown by Colonel John Landers, Officer Commanding of the 78th Fighter Group. Landers finished the war with 14.5 victories, plus 0 ground victories.

The North American P-51 Mustang was designed to meet an RAF requirement for a fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. It first flew on October 26th, 1940, and was capable of escorting bombers on long-range missions, engaging in dogfights, and destroying German targets on the ground. At least eight versions of the P-51 were produced, but the definitive P-51D gave the Mustang its classic warbird appearance. The airframe was tested by both Britain and the US with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which gave the aircraft tremendous performance gains. The Truman Senate War Investigating Committee called the Mustang "the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence."