Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA27709
North American P-51D Mustang Diecast Model
USAAF 352nd FG, 487th FS, #44-14237 Moonbeam McSwine, William Whisner, RAF Bodney, England, September 1944 | |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| North American P-51D Mustang | | 5.25" | | 6.25" |
PLEASE NOTE: This item is not currently in stock and has a planned arrival date of August 2026.- Orders may not ship until complete. If you wish to receive in-stock items prior to pre-ordered items, you must place separate orders.
- Arrival dates are subject to change. Consider them to be estimates as manufacturers frequently revise them.
- Credit Cards are not billed until time of shipment. PayPal payment (not recommended) is required at time of order.
William T. 'Bill' Whisner rose to prominence as the trusted wingman of legendary US ace George Preddy, before carving out his own remarkable legacy as one of America's most respected fighter pilots. His most spectacular achievement came on 21st November 1944 during a mission over the synthetic oil refineries at Merseburg, where he destroyed five FW190 fighters in just twenty frantic minutes of combat, with two more probably destroyed. This extraordinary feat earned him the Distinguished Service Cross.
Whisner's second DSC came on New Year's Day 1945 during the Luftwaffe's audacious "Operation Bodenplatte" raid, when 65 enemy fighters attacked airfield Y-29 Asch in Belgium. Taking off in his faithful Mustang "Moonbeam McSWINE", he immediately engaged approaching enemy aircraft. Before his undercarriage had fully retracted, he was already firing at a Focke Wulf Fw190, sending it crashing to the ground.
Moments later, enemy cannon shells struck his fighter, but despite the damage, Whisner refused to disengage. He stayed with his battered Mustang to claim a second Focke Wulf and two Messerschmitt Bf109s destroyed, bringing his total victory score to 15.5 aircraft. These would be Whisner's final victories of the Second World War, but his combat career was far from over.
He went on to become one of only seven US airmen to achieve ace status during the Korean War, this time flying the North American F-86A/E Sabre jet, cementing his place among the most accomplished fighter pilots in American military history.
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 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale P-51 Mustang series includes the early war P-51B and the late war P-51D variants. P-51B releases feature either an early bird-cage style canopy or the "Malcolm-Hood" style canopy and under wing mounted pitot tube. The P-51D's large "bubble-top" canopy allows for easy viewing of a hand-painted pilot figure. A removable engine cowling is included on some releases (see photos), revealing a detailed Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. This series includes models with a variety of wing mount drop tanks and ordnance and accurately modeled radiator scoops. When configured for ground display, the wing's structural detail can be seen inside the wheel wells.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
