1/72 Revell P-51 Mustang III R.A.F.

by Leonardo Novelli Krause

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This diorama was built with a Revell P-51 Mustang, AEC Matador from Airfix R.A.F. Refueling Set Kit and decals from Zestaw Kalkomanii Decals.  The P-51 kit was wonderful to build, Matador not so much. I made a highly detailed cockpit and then I closed the canopy. Who will understand. ;-)

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Here is left side color profile of a Mustang flown by Eugeniusz "Dziubek" Horbaczewski. The P-51, "PK-G" FB387, was "Dziubek's" personal plane just before his final mission. In that combat, Horbaczewski flew another, bare-metal finish (?) FB355 "Mustang", "PK-K". 

 

Shown, in the photo above, is Capt. Eugeniusz Horbaczewski in front of his P-51 Mustang "PK-G", FB-387, from 315th Squadron. Of special note are the markings on the fuselage: national Polish insignia, bomb runs, Squadron board, aerial victories and markings of V-1 flying bomb kills. In the photo below, Horbaczewski is on the wing of his Mustang just before leaving on a mission. Also included is his portrait during the North Africa "Skalski Circus" campaign. There is also a color photo of his grave in Creil, France, and two color profiles of "Dziubek's" (his nick-name, used by friends) "Mustangs". 

Eugeniusz Horbaczewski was born in 1917 in Kiev, but spent his childhood in Poland. His family moved to Brzesc over the Bug river. Since his early years Horbaczewski was fascinated by aviation. First, he built flying models, but as he matured, he started glider courses, quickly earning his class A and B ratings. On 14 August, 1935 he received his Bezmiechowa glider C rating. Next, he went to Officer Flying School in Deblin, where under the instructor Witold Urbanowicz he was awarded the rank of Pilot, Second Leutnant. Here comes only some Eugeniusz' actions.

In September of 1939 Horbaczewski did not take part in any aerial battles against the Luftwaffe. On September 17th, with a large group of Polish aviators, he crossed the Romanian border and via Yugoslavia, Greece and France, arriving in Britain. After completing fighter training in British aircraft, he was assigned to fly "Spitfires" with the Polish 303rd Squadron. To his squadron mates, Horbaczewski was also known as "Dziubek". 

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On 16 February 1944 Horbaczewski took command of Polish 315 Fighter Squadron "City of Deblin," with squadron codes "PK". In March of1944, the Squadron was re-equipped, from "Spitfire" Mk Vs to "Mustang" Mk IIIs. On June 22, 1944 "Dziubek" had a performance of remarkable courage. During a ground attack on German units near Cherbourg, the aircraft piloted by Lt. Tadeusz Tamowicz was damaged and forced to land. Horbaczewski skillfully landed nearby on an airstrip just built by Americans. He found Tamowicz, who had injuries to both legs, and brought him back to "Dziubek's" P-51. Horbaczewski flew the two of them across the Channel to the home base of Coolham.

In the summer of 1944 the 315 Fighter Squadron took part in special missions to hunt V-1 flying bombs, Horbaczewski knocking down four of the squadron's total of 53 V-1s. On 30 June 1944 the 315th squadron escorted "Beaufighters" on a long mission to Norway. In combat, about 50 km off Norway's coast, "Dziubek" scored a single Bf 109 kill. He shared another one when his guns jammed. Squadron victories for that battle were: six Bf 109s, one Fw 190, and one Bf 110, without any losses.

Leonardo

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Photos and text © by Leonardo Novelli Krause