**** DONE: 1/48 P-51D "Wild Will" - Allied Manufactured Aircraft

Crimea_River said:

From the 359th FG Facebook page:

Lt. Col. James W. Parsons served in the ETO with HQ and the 368th and 369th Fighter Squadrons, 359th Fighter Group, after serving with the 54th Fighter Group in the Aleutians. With two air victories, Col. Parsons flew 49 missions with the 359th totaling 226:15 hours. Aircraft included P-51D IV-E 44-14127 "Wild Will," which was named for Col. Parsons' first squadron commander, Maj. Wilbur G. Miller, 42nd Fighter Squadron, 54th Fighter Group, who was KIA in the Aleutians campaign.
At age 95, Colonel Parsons passed away at his home in Carlsbad, CA on December 15, 2014. At his side as he left for his next mission, his wife of 73 years. Colonel Parsons was laid to rest with full military honors at Miramar National Cemetery where his extended family celebrated his life and long, heroic service to our country.
Photo courtesy of Robert Elliott. Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.

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I have only found two pictures of this aircraft. The first one is the same aircraft but before Parsons got it and added the nose art. There is a pic of his previous mount, IV-E but I've not included it.:

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Crimea_River said:

Thanks very much guys. Another build behind me and one less in my stash to worry about. The final few things done to this one included the addition of the pitot tube, a stretched sprue tail nav light, hydraulic jacks for the main gear doors, the tail wheel doors, landing light, and the actuator for the radiator exit louver. These last few pics show the completed model and feature some of the above finishing touches.

Thanks to everyone who followed this build and who provided constructive comments and information. These, as always, are very much appreciated.

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vail81658 said:

Hi. I was wondering if you have these decals. James W. Parsons is my grandfather and I would love to have a model of his Wild Will plane. I know the back story to why he named it that.

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vail81658 said:

Hi. I was wondering if you have these decals. James W. Parsons is my grandfather and I would love to have a model of his Wild Will plane. I know the back story to why he named it that.
I would love to give you more pictures!

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