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摘要

The skies above Europe became much busier with American fighters as World War Two progressed, with the sight of a P-47 Thunderbolt or P-51 Mustang -from the 48th and 78th Fighter Groups (among others) respectively - being a regular occurrence. In more recent years, the liveries of these UK-based wartime units have adorned fewer aircraft at airshows here and on the continent. However, the colours of these two USAAF groups made a welcome resurgence last year. Through the combined efforts of Anglia Aircraft Restorations (AAR) and Fighter Aviation Engineering (FAE), the UK is now blessed with a representation of a USAAF 'Mad Hatters' 492nd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group P-47 (then stationed at Ibsley, Hampshire) and a dual-control TF-51 Mustang marked as a P-51D of the Duxford, Cambridgeshire-based 84th FS, 78th FG. Both are operated by Air Leasing under the Ultimate Warbirds banner and offer experiences previously only dreamt about. Few can say they have physically taken control of a Mustang over British soil, and what better than peering along the wing of this iconic fighter to see the markings worn by a 'Duxford Eagles' 78th FG aircraft. Similarly, if the prospect of watching a P-47 skip through the clouds with a P-51 in close formation gets you weak at the knees, grab your cameras... this is now something you can actually witness through the window of a Beech King Air.