RAF P51 Dooleybird

[aqua_ta]

Hi fellas,
I'm going to be building a Airfix 1/24 P51K and will be painting it as the 'Dooleybird'.
I was after some background info and perhaps some pics of this supposedly famous aircraft, yet for a famous aircraft there is nothing on the net when google'd. There is also a lot of speculation on the coloured stripe that extends from the spinner,along the lower edge of the anti glare and around the canopy frame.Some say it should be Yellow as per the kit diagram, others say it's the same blue as the spinner and chequered nose, and others say the anti glare was entirely blue.
Does anyone have any info on this massively famous( insert sarcasm ) Mustang?
Thank you in advance

 

[Wurger]

In a Squadron/Signal publication # 6505 Fighting colors P-51 Mustang. I have found the pic below. Also the info... nose checks,spinner tip,conopy bottom and the trim to the antiglare panel was Medium Blue.
The name was red with balck trim.Code letters QV_V and serial number KM272 black.

 

[aqua_ta]

Thank you, I saw that on a very deep discussion on a forum somewhere, and even then they couldn't agree on the stripe,canopy frame colour. I agree with the Blue idea, but I have seen die-cast versions where the anti glare itself was also Blue.....?
Also just for the sake of background info, why is it famous?
I can find mountains of info on other 'famous' Mustangs but not this one which seems a bit odd when considering its 'famous' label.

 

[Airframes]

The blue is correct, except for the anti-glare panel, which was Olive Drab. The aircraft is not particularly famous, especially as the Mustang IV only entered RAF service in very late 1944/early '45, by which time 19 Squadron were operating from Scotland on long- range escort duties to Norway, and I suspect that, as there are relatively few photos of RAF Mustang IV's in bare metal, it just happens to have become 'well known' (in the modelling world), more than likely due to the nose art, the latter not being as common (in the RAF) as it was in the USAAF.
No doubt others here might have more detailed info on this particular aircraft, but if you'd like a profile of another bare metal Mustang IV, flown by Baron Michael Donet,with personal markings and a red/blue spinner, let me know.

 

[Wurger]

A very nice info here Terry. I have suspected the Mustang wasn't so famous as suggested.I have checked on the 19th squadron and I found almost nothing about the plane.

 

[Airframes]

Seems to be fairly normal Wojtek. I think it's a case of model manufacturers choosing some subjects based on available photographs, and the same with profile artists. One that was fairly common at one time in profiles was that flown by Stan Farmiloe, and I've just forgotten the Squadron! I think my brain is shrinking!! Anyway, it was often shown in photos, paintings and profiles, as it was one of the few pics around showing a bare metal Mustang IV in RAF squadron service, another being 'Jas' Storrar's. I asked both of these extremely nice gentlemen about the aircraft, and discovered they only arrived 'on strength' about three or four weeks before the war in Europe ended!

 

[aqua_ta]

Thanks gents, that may at least explain the mysterious 'famous' tag.
I thought perhaps the pilot was an ace or had done something extraordinary, never mind as you've already said it is unusual for an RAF aircraft to be painted with that kind of individuality....shame really.
I'll be sure to post pics during my build.
Thanks

 

[Kangaroobin]

Seems to be fairly normal Wojtek. I think it's a case of model manufacturers choosing some subjects based on available photographs, and the same with profile artists. One that was fairly common at one time in profiles was that flown by Stan Farmiloe, and I've just forgotten the Squadron! I think my brain is shrinking!! Anyway, it was often shown in photos, paintings and profiles, as it was one of the few pics around showing a bare metal Mustang IV in RAF squadron service, another being 'Jas' Storrar's. I asked both of these extremely nice gentlemen about the aircraft, and discovered they only arrived 'on strength' about three or four weeks before the war in Europe ended!

Hi Airframes,
I was just doing a search on my Grandfather and found a comment you made to him...Stan Farmiloe! Don't know what made me search as he has been gone for some time, but he was pretty much my hero.
How did you know him and how come you came to mention him in the posting?
I have signed 'Operation Carthage with his name, amongst others, on my office wall?
best regards
Rubin