North American P 51 Mustang World War Ii Aircraft

I suspect the third character of the nose marking was a zero rather than an oh reflecting harkers position as daddy rabbit. Following the war the p 51 was retained as the usaafs standard piston engine fighter. Having been developed to fulfil a british order in 1940 it earned its fame escorting the bombers of the 8th air force over germany in 1944 and 1945 where it gain much of the credit for the final defeat of the luftwaffe.

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The north american aviation p 51 mustang is an american long range single seat fighter and fighter bomber used during world war ii and the korean war among other conflicts.

North american p 51 mustang world war ii aircraft. The mustang was designed in 1940 by north american aviation in response to a requirement of the british purchasing commission. The pairing of the legendary merlin engine and the p 51 mustang eventually resulted in the p 51d which provided the us army air forces with a high performance high altitude long range fighter that could escort heavy bomber formations all the way to berlin and back. Numerous examples of the aircraft survive to this day often as heavily modified air racers. While best known for its service in europe some mustang units saw service in the pacific and the far east.

Originally planned for the british as a medium altitude pursuit fighter to defend against german air raids in 1940 the mustang soon found fame in the offensive role. The p 51 mustang was one of the most famous fighter aircraft of the second world war. North american p 51 mustang combat aircraft. Army air forces north american p 51 mustang fighters from the 375th fighter squadron 361st fighter group from raf bottisham cambridgeshire uk in flight on july 26 1944the nearest aircraft is p 51d 5 na sn 44 13410 flown by the 361st co col.

Rather than build an old design from another company north america. The purchasing commission approached north american aviation to build curtiss p 40 fighters under license for the royal air force. P 51 mustang of the 332nd fighter group. North american p 51h 5 mustang with the limitations for fighter duties due to the allison engine nevertheless the mustang had good ground attack potential and its high speed at low altitude made it ideal for tactical reconnaissance.

The p 51 mustang dominated world war ii and it might have replaced the a 10 warthog the north american p 51 mustang was one of the greatest fighters of world war ii. Particularly deep strike missions against axis supply lines and as high altitude escorts for long range bombers. Aircraft combat record. Le0 was originally the personal mount of co lt col ward w.

Lou iv on the left side the fourth aircraft named after his daughter and athelene on the right side probably the crew chiefs lady friend or wife. The l coded mustangs were from the 54th fighter group while it was a stateside p 51 replacement training group based in florida. Over twenty variants of the north american p 51 mustang fighter were produced from 1940 when it first flew to after the second world war some of which were employed also in the korean war and in several other conflicts. During world war ii the p 51 was credited with downing 4950 german aircraft the most of any allied fighter.

The british designation for the p 51a was the mustang ii and fifty were delivered late in 1942.