GeminiJets Gemini Aces GAUSA2FM1
North American P-51C Mustang Diecast Model
USAAF 332nd FG, 302nd FS Tuskegee Airmen, INA the Macon Belle, Buddy Archer, Ramitelli, Italy, August 1944, FLYING MULE EXCLUSIVE | Limited Edition
504
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| North American P-51C Mustang | | 5.25" | | 6.25" |
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Corps (United States Army Air Forces after June 20, 1941).
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states were still subject to the Jim Crow laws. The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subjected to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction. All black military pilots who trained in the United States trained at Tuskegee, including five Hatians.
Although the 477th Bombardment Group "worked up" on North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, they never served in combat; the Tuskegee 332nd Fighter Group was the only operational unit, first sent overseas as part of Operation Torch, then seeing action in Sicily and Italy, before being deployed as bomber escorts in Europe, where they were very successful.
The Tuskegee Airmen were intially equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter-bomber aircraft, briefly with Bell P-39 Airacobras (March 1944), later with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts (June-July 1944), and finally with the aircraft which they became most commonly associated with, the North American P-51 Mustang (July 1944). When the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group painted the tails of their P-47 and later, P-51s, red, the nickname "Red Tails" was coined. Bomber crews applied a more effusive "Red-Tail Angels" sobriquet.
Designed to meet an RAF requirement for fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-51 Mustang was first flown on October 26th, 1940. This versatile aircraft was capable of escorting bombers on long-range missions, engaging in dogfights, and dropping down to destroy German targets on the ground. At least eight versions of the P-51 were produced, but it was the definitive P-51D that gave the Mustang its classic warbird appearance. Britain and the US both tested the airframe 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." © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Gemini's 1:72 scale P-51B Mustang is constructed using more diecast metal than most other models on the market today. Metal details include an all metal propeller and spinner hub—uncommon features in this scale—metal exhaust stacks, a solid metal antenna, metal main landing gear that is both pinned and keyed for proper ground display and moveable flaps and rudders with metal hinges. There is also high-quality rivet and panel detail on the wings and fuselage, and two types of removable wing-mounted fuel tanks.
© Copyright 2003-2020 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The GeminiJets "Gemini Aces" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
GeminiJets "Gemini Aces" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with minimal use of plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Detailed cockpit interiors.
- Selected moveable control surfaces.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Metal presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Authentic ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Photo-etched, spinning metal propellers.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
