Tamiya 60754 1/72 F-51D Mustang Korean War Scale Model  [60754]

History and Role of the F-51D Mustang

The story of the North American F-51D Mustang traces back to a 1940 sketch in a Manhattan hotel. First known to the US Army Air Corps as the P-51 and christened Mustang by the British, the design became one of the most respected fighters of the era. The P-51D stands out with its bubble canopy and was produced in the largest numbers, totalling 9,603 units.

Equipped with six .50 caliber machine guns and able to carry external fuel tanks or a 1000lb bomb load, the Mustang filled multiple combat roles. After World War II many air forces retained Mustangs, and in Korea the F-51D's low-speed handling made it valuable for supporting ground operations and working with forward air controllers.

That agility came with tradeoffs: the F-51D's liquid-cooled engine could be fatally damaged by ground fire during close support runs. Records show 194 Mustangs lost over three years in Korea, with only 10 losses from air combat. These wartime details add authenticity for modellers researching paint schemes and battle damage.