My P-51 Mustang continues…6-28-2023

Yesterday I spent the day taking a break from sculpting and worked on the Mustang. The Communion bust sculpture’s clay needs to dry out a bit more before I can do the fine detail.

Now that I know the plane flies well after piloting it’s maiden flight it’s time to make it a part of history that is to me amazing.

Gear down and on final aproach for her first landing after a great maiden flight.

The Tuskegee Airmen of WW2 for me are one of my real hero’s. A black squadron of amazing talented pilots faced impossible odds in a world faced with racism, and prejudice. White commanders and a military that saw them as less than their white counter parts as pilots. They were treated badly but they raised up against it all with incredible braving beating the odds and saving lives.

Not only did they prove them wrong but they became one of the best squadrons of WW2 saving of our B-17 pilots lives and missions with incredible skill and valor.

Sadly racism and segregation continued to have a stranglehold on the country. It still does. Instead of being greeted with a hero’s welcome, the Tuskegee Airmen were segregated as soon as they disembarked the ships that brought them home. German prisoners of war were treated better than black Americans.

Today we know the truth. These were great pilots and great human beings. No more no less. So as I have in the past I am decorating my P-51 mustang models in their honor might they be remembered for their sacrifice for all of us to be free from fascism.

I started with making the tail red as they were known as the Red Tails. No other squadron had them.

My particular paint scheme is being patterned off of the P-51 named Bunny.

It will take time to finish. I’m planning to hand sculpt the pilot Lt. Col. Bob Friend who flew the plane in WW2. Today I’ll be making decals to be applied soon.