Maj. Jim Howard, former Flying Tiger, resumed serving his country with the 354th FG, Ninth Air Force, where it was under the operational control of VIII Fighter Command. Its job: long-range escort of Eighth Air Force B-17s and B-24s. On Jan. 11, 1944, Maj. Howard ended up waging a solo battle against some 30 German fighters. The story: One-Man Air Force

Tamiya's 1/48 P-51B is my kit for his mount Ding Hao!. I decided to put the pilot figure in it. Mike Grant instrument decals decorate part of the instrument panel. Here's the beginning.

Di' di' mao Dinki Dao! (Rough translation) Hurry up crazy man!

Seriously nice beginning. This brings me back to our one car garage in the summer of 1968 Corpus Christi Texas. I was building biplanes but all my friends had bf109's or OD painted P51B types.

Stephen,
I read your first line & had a flashback to Korat RTAFB in '72. At one point , I was "mak mak kee mao", after losing 2 of our comrades over the North. They went MIA, probably KIA. Never heard any word on them. We Hunter Killer types just went out and got very s__t- faced. The maids & other local help went walking by us the next morning, giggling & saying that Thai phrase.
Ken