1/48 Academy P-47D

78th FG machine from Duxford. Aircraft depicted is 42-26461, a P-47D-25-RE Thunderbolt fitted with a Hamilton Standard propeller. The aircraft is marked up as 'MX V' and was flown by Lt. Harold J Morris. This aircraft crashed into a forest whilst performing an attack run on a truck 2km West of Roly, Belgium 26th July, 1944. Lt Morris was killed in action. The American Air Museum website has a pilot report from Lt. Morris' wingman, Lt Donald H. Swankowski which details the incident that cost Morris his life. To find this you can search 'P47 42-26461'.

I have no pictures of this aircraft so the RAF Dark Green/Sky undersides is somewhat speculative, but it is based on the picture evidence of other P-47's in the unit and Roger Freeman's Mighty Eighth 'Warpaint and Heraldry. I also used LittleFriends.co.uk and searched their database to find details about this aircraft. As the incident took place at the end of July '44, the aircraft would most likely have had all topside d-day markings removed but would still have retained the markings underneath on the wings and fuselage.

I went for 'Sky Type S' undersides as the research for the underside colours of 78th Fg aircraft is still debated. I've seen picture evidence that supports a very light colour on the underside, that is certainly lighter than US Neutral Grey. The bubbletop P-47D's arrived in natural metal and were painted by the unit using locally obtained paints. To my eyes, the black and white photos match quite well with RAF aircraft with sky undersides, such as the Coastal Command Mosquitos.

Things used in the kit in addition to the Academy model:

D-Day stripes, national insignia and nose checkers are from the 1/48 tamiya kit (from my spares box)

Squadron Codes and yellow aircraft serials - KitsWorld P-51B/C/D Numbering and Lettering for Camouflage Finish.

Hamilton Standard Prop has been swapped from another Academy kit (kit normally comes with Curtiss Electric one)

500lb bombs are taken from the 1/48 Eduard P-51 kit.