Corgi Aviation Archive Series Diecast Model

North American P-51D Mustang (Early) - 44-13761 / MC-I, “Happy Jack's Go Buggy”, Capt. Jack M. Ilfrey, 79th FS, 20th FG, U.S. 8th Air Force, USAAF, RAF Kings Cliffe, August 1944

1:72 Scale.  Length: 5.4".  Wingspan: 6.2"


Limited Edition of 1,000 Models Worldwide

With ace Jack M. Ilfrey having been shot down over France just six days after D-Day, but luckily managing 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 continue fighting in the same theatre of operations following a successful repatriation, as they were at risk of both placing his helpers in danger and being shot as a spy if brought down again. Despite this, after a short spell touring airfields to recount his experiences to fellow pilots, Ilfrey found himself back at Kings Cliffe airfield, the commanding officer of his old squadron. The unit had recently traded their twin engine P-38 Lightning’s for the North American P-51D, with the P-38s transferred to the Ninth Air Force for use in ground support operations.

With his Mustang receiving the same “Happy Jack’s Go Buggy” nose artwork as his previous fighter aircraft, 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 in Holland. 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 - he described this as an extremely uncomfortable, but memorable flight back to Kings Cliffe for the pair.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was a single-seat World War II fighter aircraft. First flown on October 26, 1940, the P-51 was designed and built in just 117 days. It flew most of its missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany, helping ensure Allied air superiority from 1944. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast and durable aircraft


Corgi is a leading manufacturer of high quality, pre-built, die-cast model airplanes. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to details, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are constructed with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a P-51 Mustang features: