This diorama was
built with a Revell P-51 Mustang, AEC Matador from Airfix R.A.F. Refueling Set
Kit and decals from Zestaw Kalkomanii Decals. The P-51 kit was
wonderful
to build, Matador not so much. I made a highly detailed cockpit and then I closed
the canopy. Who will understand. ;-)
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Here
is left side color profile of a Mustang flown by Eugeniusz "Dziubek"
Horbaczewski. The P-51, "PK-G" FB387, was "Dziubek's"
personal plane just before his final mission. In that combat, Horbaczewski flew
another, bare-metal finish (?) FB355 "Mustang", "PK-K".
Shown,
in the photo above, is Capt. Eugeniusz Horbaczewski in front of his P-51 Mustang
"PK-G", FB-387, from 315th Squadron. Of special note are the markings
on the fuselage: national Polish insignia, bomb runs, Squadron board, aerial
victories and markings of V-1 flying bomb kills. In the photo below,
Horbaczewski is on the wing of his Mustang just before leaving on a mission.
Also included is his portrait during the North Africa "Skalski Circus"
campaign. There is also a color photo of his grave in Creil, France, and two
color profiles of "Dziubek's" (his nick-name, used by friends)
"Mustangs".
Eugeniusz
Horbaczewski was born in 1917 in Kiev, but spent his childhood in Poland. His
family moved to Brzesc over the Bug river. Since his early years Horbaczewski
was fascinated by aviation. First, he built flying models, but as he matured, he
started glider courses, quickly earning his class A and B ratings. On 14 August,
1935 he received his Bezmiechowa glider C rating. Next, he went to Officer
Flying School in Deblin, where under the instructor Witold
Urbanowicz he was awarded the rank of Pilot, Second Leutnant. Here
comes only some Eugeniusz' actions.
In
September of 1939 Horbaczewski did not take part in any aerial battles against
the Luftwaffe. On September 17th, with a large group of Polish aviators, he
crossed the Romanian border and via Yugoslavia, Greece and France, arriving in
Britain. After completing fighter training in British aircraft, he was assigned
to fly "Spitfires" with the Polish 303rd Squadron. To his squadron
mates, Horbaczewski was also known as "Dziubek".
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On
16 February 1944 Horbaczewski took command of Polish 315 Fighter Squadron
"City of Deblin," with squadron codes "PK". In March of1944,
the Squadron was re-equipped, from "Spitfire" Mk Vs to
"Mustang" Mk IIIs. On June 22, 1944 "Dziubek" had a
performance of remarkable courage. During a ground attack on German units near
Cherbourg, the aircraft piloted by Lt. Tadeusz Tamowicz was damaged and forced
to land. Horbaczewski skillfully landed nearby on an airstrip just built by
Americans. He found Tamowicz, who had injuries to both legs, and brought him
back to "Dziubek's" P-51. Horbaczewski flew the two of them across the
Channel to the home base of Coolham.
In
the summer of 1944 the 315 Fighter Squadron took part in special missions to
hunt V-1 flying bombs, Horbaczewski knocking down four of the squadron's total
of 53 V-1s. On 30 June 1944 the 315th squadron escorted "Beaufighters"
on a long mission to Norway. In combat, about 50 km off Norway's coast, "Dziubek"
scored a single Bf 109 kill. He shared another one when his guns jammed.
Squadron victories for that battle were: six Bf 109s, one Fw 190, and one Bf
110, without any losses.
Leonardo
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