north american p-51 mustang, north american p-51b mustang 42-106950, north american p-51b-15-na mustang, north american p-51b mustang, robert e. hulderman, and 1 more (world war 2 and 5 more) drawn by image_courtesy_of_mackenzie_bell_and_thomas_guffey and north_american_aviation_(naa)

Artist's commentary

Original

P-51 of the 8th Air Force

Original .tiff in source

"This 355th Fighter Group (8th Air Force) P-51B Mustang had an interesting history. The plane started out as Man O' War, belonging to eventual 8-victory ace Lt. Col. Claiborne Kinnard, of Franklin, Tennessee.
The plane was next assigned to Lt. Robert E. Hulderman, who named it The Iowa Beaut. Hulderman was not an ace - his final score was an Me 410 damaged - but he retained Kinnard's victory markings on the plane. He later had a P-51D nicknamed The Iowa Beaut II. Hulderman was from Cleveland, Ohio, so my guess is he knew a girl from Iowa. Lt. Hulderman logged 58 missions and 264 combat hours in all.
Lastly, Capt. Kenneth Rafferty was KIA flying this Mustang on 11 Sept 44. On that date, Capt. Rafferty and his element leader were returning home at minimum altitude. Both were hit by a heavy and accurate flak barrage after flying over a small German town. Rafferty and The Iowa Beaut spun in at low level." - Warren Davis - https://www.facebook.com/WorldWarAviation/posts/p-51b-iowa-beaut-this-mustang-and-her-pilot-capt-kenneth-rafferty-were-lost-on-s/1211865394306061/

Aircraft information obtained from https://armahobbynews.pl/en/blog/2024/05/20/new-double-kit-70069-p-51b-mustang-deluxe-set-1-72-european-front/