AeroMaster Products continue their two-sheet coverage of 8th Air Force Fighter groups with sheets 48-634 and 48-635 that provide markings for six P-51s of the 359th Fighter Group.    The name "Green Nosed Mustangs" stems form the group's green identification colour that was applied to the noses of all their aircraft and the fact that the Group was based at East Wretham, Norfolk in the UK from October 1943 until November 1945. 

The individual aircraft and their markings are as follows: 

Part I - sheet number 48-634  

'TORCHY', P-51D 44-15215 as flown by Flight Officer Harley Berndt of the 369th Fighter Squadron.  The markings depict it as it appeared in March 1954.  The machine is in overall natural metal/painted aluminium finish with black theatre bands around the wings/flaps and horizontal stabilizer/elevators. It wears the later style Group nose markings and the red rudder, VHF antenna and canopy frame markings that identify it as a 369th Fighter Squadron machine.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• The name 'TORCHY' in white on a red and orange flamed background.
• Individual data block with the correct serial number.
• Black IV squadron and S individual aircraft codes.
• Black 415215 serial number.
• A complete set of national insignia.
• The 'silver' background for the rudder where the serial number was masked off when the rudder was painted red.  A nice addition as it saves you from having to first paint the rudder silver first then masking over the area where the serial number is applied it when you paint the rudder red.

"COOKIE", P-51D 44-13762 as flown by Lieutenant Gordon East, 368th Fighter Squadron, autumn 1944.  The machine is in overall natural metal/painted aluminium finish with black theatre bands and the remnants of D-Day markings under the rear fuselage.  It has the early style Group nose markings, a red VHF antenna and rudder trim tab.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• The name "COOKIE", in red with a yellow outline.
• A running moose in black – the machine wore the identity of 'Moose Nose' earlier in its career.
• Individual data block with the correct serial number.
• Black CV squadron and D individual aircraft codes.
• Black 413762 serial number.
• A set of 'greyed out' national insignia.

P-51B (the only one on either sheet) 42-106894 as flown by Lieutenant Ray Wetmore, 370th Fighter Squadron, June 1944.  The machine is in overall natural metal/painted aluminium finish with a full set of D-Day markings under and the early style Group nose markings.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Individual data block with the correct serial number.
• Black CS squadron and P individual aircraft codes.  The codes are supplied as partial letters only to butt up against the D-Day markings which over painted them on the one-to-one-scale machine.
• Black 2106894 serial number.
• A complete set of national insignia.
• A scoreboard consisting of a red rectangle with 13 German balken kreus.  Four of the balken kreus have white letter 'G's on them to signify ground kills.  The printing of the decals is so good that you need magnification to read the letter.

Part II sheet number 48-635 

Sheet 48-635 is Part II of the Green Nosed Mustangs of East Wretham and it also provides markings for three aircraft. 

'DEVILESS 3RD', P-51D-5, 'DEVILESS 3RD', 44-13390, flown by Major Nevin Cranfil, 369th Fighter Squadron, autumn 1944.  The machine is in overall natural metal/painted aluminium finish with D-Day markings under the rear fuselage and wings.  It has the early style Group nose markings, a red VHF antenna and rudder.  The supplied markings comprise:

• The name 'DEVILESS 3RD'in red letters on black circle backgrounds with an outline style female wearing long red gloves, red bra and a black skirt.  This marking is supplied as a one-piece decal so it will require care and patience to apply it.
• Individual data block with the correct serial number.
• Black IV squadron and N individual aircraft codes.
• A set of national insignia.
• Black 44-13390 serial.
• The 'silver' background for the rudder.
• A black rectangle that contains the pilot's and ground crew's names.

'STINKY', P-51D-10, 44-14117, Lieutenant Joe Mejaski, 369th Fighter Squadron, March 1945.  The machine is in overall natural metal/painted aluminium finish with black theatre bands.  It has later style Group nose markings, and a red rudder.  The supplied markings comprise:

• The name 'Stinky' in red.
• Individual data block with the correct serial number.
• Black IV squadron and M individual aircraft codes.
• Black 44-14117 serial number.
• A set of national insignia.
• The 'silver' background for the rudder.
• A black rectangle that contains the pilot's and ground crew's names.

"HAPPY", P-51D-15, 44-15371, Captain James Way Jr, 368th Fighter Squadron, March 1945.  The machine is in overall natural metal/painted aluminium finish with black theatre bands.  It has later style Group nose markings and a yellow rudder.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• The name "HAPPY" in red with a yellow outline.
• Individual data block with the correct serial number.
• Black CV squadron and Z individual aircraft codes.
• Black 44-15371 serial number that incorporates the 'silver' background
• A set of 'greyed out' national insignia.

Two complete sets of stencil data are provided on each sheet as well as a complete set of black theatre bands.  These latter items are provided as 16 different decals to allow placement over wings, flaps and undercarriage doors.  As far as I'm concerned these are great as it saves a lot of masking over a natural metal finish! 

The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf – they work, just be patient and use plenty of settling solution! 

The decals and placement sheets are packed in clear plastic zip-loc bags. 

The placement guides for both sheets are A-4 in size and show colour left hand side profiles of each option as well as plan views of the upper and lower surfaces of the wings for option.  A separate placement guide is provided for the stencil data, oddly, this guide shows a P-51B illustration on both sheets.  Comprehensive notes are provided for each aircraft and include such things as whether or not the aircraft had shrouded or unshrouded exhausts and rear view mirrors.  History buffs are also catered for as potted histories are also provided for each aircraft.  A comprehensive list of references is provided. 

The recommended kits are the Tamiya –D and –B. 

Both of these sheets provide excellent value for money.  They supply comprehensive markings for six aircraft as well as stencil data and theatre band markings.  Mustang fans will welcome the fact that four of them have not been seen in decal format before. 

Recommended. 

Footnote: 

Excellent reference on the 359th Fighter Group can be found on the Little Friends site that covers the 8th Air Force in WWII.  There are even photographs of some of the options on these sheets.  To have a look at the site, go here: 

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk 

Thanks to AeroMaster / Eagle Strike Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.

Review TextCopyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 10 February, 2004
Last updated 21 July, 2004

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