P-47D Thunderbolt, "Donnie Boy", Don Gentile, 1944 (1:72)

The Flying Mule presents another limited edition model, commissioned from Corgi Classics as a part of their Aviation Archive series. This model is limited to just 750 pieces worldwide!

Dominic Gentile began his fighter pilot career in the RAF, where he was a member of the No. 133 Eagle Squadron, an elite flying force consisting entirely of American born pilots. It was in the cockpit of a Supermarine Spitfire that Gentile made his first mark as a great pilot, earning the British Distinguished Flying Cross after shooting down two German aircraft within 10 minutes of each other.

The following month, Gentile and his fellow Eagle Squadron pilots were transitioned from RAF duty to the US Air Force 336th Fighter Squadron, Fourth Fighter Group, a unit that went on to become one of the most successful air combat units of WWII. The 336th continued to fly Spitfires (Gentile's USAAF Spitfire is also available as a Flying Mule edition) until the P-47 Thunderbolt came on the scene in 1943. Used to the lighter, more maneuverable Spitfire, Gentile was not pleased with his new plane, but he christened it "Donnie Boy" and went on to score 4.33 victories in its cockpit, two of which occurred during a famous low-altitude dogfight in which he out-maneuvered an Fw-190. During that battle, Gentile shot down two Fw-190s but ran out of ammunition and was forced to out-fly a pursuing Fw-190 until it, too exhausted its ammunition. The incident was a remarkable example of Gentile's skill in the cockpit-not many pilots could fly a tight-turning dogfight in a P-47 against a pursuing Fw-190 and come away the winner.

While serving in the 336th, Gentile and fellow ace Duane Beeson began a friendly rivalry nicknamed "The Ace Race" (Beeson's P-47 is also available from Corgi). Both men were so dedicated to their goal of scoring the highest number of German kills that they exchanged leave time for the opportunity to fly. The record was ultimately captured by Gentile when he broke Rickenbacker's record of 26 kills on April 5, 1944, at the age of 23.