A Mini LEGO Custom P-51 Red Tails Mustang Jet that is the perfect gift for the Navy or LEGO fan in your life! This Custom Set ships un-assembled with 59 new LEGO pieces and printed color instructions! This set includes a build-able LEGO display stand as well to display show off your jet!
This Custom LEGO Set Includes:
The P-51 "Red Tails" refer to the iconic P-51 Mustang fighters flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, particularly the 332nd Fighter Group, during World War II. The Mustang itself, designed by North American Aviation, first flew on October 26, 1940, under the guidance of chief engineer Edgar Schmued, initially for a British contract. While early models used the underpowered Allison engine, the 1942 integration of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine transformed the P-51 into a high-performance fighter, boasting a top speed of 437 mph and a range exceeding 1,650 miles with drop tanks. The Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, began flying P-51s in mid-1944, earning their "Red Tails" nickname from the distinctive crimson paint on their aircraft tails, a marking ordered by Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. to identify their planes in combat.
The Tuskegee Airmen’s journey to the P-51 began with their formation in 1941 at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, amidst racial segregation and skepticism about Black pilots’ capabilities. Initially equipped with older aircraft like the P-40 Warhawk, the 332nd Fighter Group deployed to Italy in 1944 under the 15th Air Force. Transitioning to the P-51C and later P-51D models, they escorted bombers on missions over Europe, including raids on Berlin and Munich. Their first Mustang mission occurred on July 4, 1944, and their red-tailed fighters quickly gained a reputation for reliability, losing fewer bombers to enemy aircraft than any other escort group in the theater. By war’s end, they had flown over 15,000 sorties, with pilots like Captain Wendell O. Pruitt and Lieutenant Lee Archer earning acclaim for downing multiple enemy planes.
The "Red Tails" legacy is rooted in both combat excellence and social impact. Between June 1944 and April 1945, the 332nd destroyed or damaged 409 enemy aircraft, including three German Me-262 jets, the first jet fighters, showcasing the P-51’s agility against cutting-edge foes. Their record included 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Presidential Unit Citation, yet they faced discrimination at home, often denied recognition equal to white units. The red tails became a symbol of resilience, as the Airmen protected B-17s and B-24s on perilous runs, earning praise from bomber crews who requested their escorts. Postwar, many returned to a segregated America, though their success helped push for the 1948 desegregation of the military, ordered by President Harry S. Truman.
As of March 12, 2025, the P-51 Red Tails endure as a powerful emblem of courage and skill, immortalized in history and popular culture, notably the 2012 film Red Tails. Of the roughly 15,500 Mustangs built, fewer than 200 remain airworthy today, with some restored in the 332nd’s red-tail livery for airshows and memorials. The Tuskegee Airmen, numbering over 900 pilots trained, saw their ranks dwindle over decades, with the last known survivor, Brigadier General Charles McGee, passing in 2022 at age 102. Their P-51s, once cutting-edge war machines, are now museum pieces or flown by enthusiasts, preserving a story of triumph over adversity that resonates 80 years after their wartime heroics.
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DISCLAIMER: This is not a LEGO® Product. These are new LEGO elements that have been repackaged. LEGO is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product. The LEGO Group and BLOCK Jets are not liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the use or misuse of this product.
