P51D Mustang 44 13761 MCI "Happy Jacks Go Buggy" -Capt Jack M Ilfrey 79th FS 20th FG Kings Clif 1944
Features Include:
• Detailed crew figures
• Drop Tank
• Rotating Propeller
• Flight stand
• Optional landing gear
Ace pilot Jack Ilfrey had been shot down over France just six days after D-Day, but luckily managed to avoid capture thanks to the efforts of the French resistance network. He soon found himself in London being interrogated by Allied intelligence officers. It was highly unusual to allow a downed airman to resume combat operations in the same theatre of operations following a successful repatriation, however, Ilfrey found himself back at Kings Cliffe airfield, the commanding officer of his old squadron. The unit had recently traded their twin engined P-38 Lightnings for North American P-51DMustangs, with the P-38s transferring to the Nineth Air Force for use in ground support operations. With his Mustang receiving the same ‘Happy Jack’s GoBuggy’ nose artwork as his previous fighter, Ilfrey would not score any further victories flying the Mustang, but he would use it as an unlikely wartime flying taxi. On the way home from completing an escort mission to Berlin, Ilfrey’s wingman was hit by flak and forced to make a hasty landing at an abandoned airstrip inHolland. Unwilling to leave the young airman to an uncertain fate, Ilfrey landed his ‘Go Buggy’ at the same airfield, beckoned his wingman into the cockpit and took off again as he sat on his lap - he described this as an extremely uncomfortable, but memorable flight.
Adult collectible designed for use by persons 14 years of age and older.