Battle Stations
North
American P-51 Mustang
Maximum speed 437mph
Service ceiling 41,900ft/12,770m
Combat range 950 miles
Operational range 1,300 miles with drop tanks
Absolute range 2,080 miles to dry tanks
Armament 6 x 0.5in Browning MG53-2 with 270 or 400
rounds each, and wing racks for tanks or 2 x 1,000lb (450kg) bombs
Originally ordered in April 1940 by the British Air Purchasing Commission, the Mustang made its first flight for the US Army Air Force in September 1942. Initially under-powered, the aerodynamically clean single-seat fighter's performance was transformed when it was fitted with the Packard V-1650 Merlin engine.
The resulting P-51B and D – accommodating a raft of modifications to armament, cockpit, canopy and fuselage – outnumbered all other versions combined. In the European theatre, the principal role of the P-51D, introduced in May 1944 and fitted with drop tanks, was that of escorting US 8th Air Force heavy bomber formations all the way from British bases to targets deep in the heart of Germany, to Berlin and beyond.
In addition to close support of the bombers, the P-51Ds flew aggressive patrols, taking the battle to the Luftwaffe day fighters and defeating them in a textbook battle of attrition. The introduction of the P-51D turned the tide in the strategic bombing campaign, stemming the potentially crippling losses previously suffered by the 8th Air Force and simultaneously dealing a mortal blow to Germany's air defences.
After the war, the Mustang proved popular with at least 55 nations, and in 1967, it was put back into production for the US Air Force.
