North American P-51 Mustang

The North American P-51 Mustang was the fastest fighter aircraft in service with the US Army Air Forces during World War II. It was also the most massively produced, with 15,586 aircraft in different versions. The P-51D was the most abundantly built, with 8,156. Thanks to its long range capacity, it often flew sorties as a bomber escort. It was also used in ground-attack and dive-bombing missions due to its excellent handling and bomb-load capability. Like the P-47 Thunderbolt, it was really a tank-buster.

The P-51 Mustang had originally been designed in 1940 in answer to a British government requirement, with North American Aviation winning the bid. The prototype tested by the RAF was the NA-73, which made its maiden flight on October 26, 1940. The X-51 was the US Air Forces prototype. Most of the earliest fighters that rolled out of American factories were supplied to the British Royal Air Force. Due to their impressive low-level speed and range, it would also be assigned to the ground support role. It was introduced in 1942 as the P-51A in the United States, and as the Mustang Mk I in Great Britain.

Below, a P-51D variant flying in the skies over California in 1946.

When the P-51 was fitted with more powerful engines, as in the P-51C and P-51D, the Mustang became an excellent fighter at high altitude, too. They were flown by more aces than any other Allied fighter. Their prey even included the Messerschmit Me-262 jet. It first saw combat action flying escort missions for the RAF bombers in November 1943. By mid 1944, the Mustang had been upgraded with a new Rolls Royce Merlin engine and a new bubble cockpit as fire power had been increased to six 12.7mm (.50-cal) machine guns. Along with the Hawker Tempest, it was the most lethal fighter in the European Theater of Operations. After WW2, it would also see action in Korea.

Technical Characteristics

The North American P-51 Mustang was a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing monoplane. Its fuselage was of all-metal construction, with a long nose to make room for its powerful inline, 1,590-HP, 12-cylinder engine. The radiator was located on the fuselage ventral side (belly of aircraft), giving it a characteristic bulge. The airframe and metal skin was rugged, being able to withstand a lot of beating and still be able to fly.

Specifications (P-51D)

Type: fighter/fighter-bomber

Length: 9.83 m (32 ft, 3 inch)

Wing Span: 11.29 m (37 ft)

Wing Area: 21.83 m2 (235 sq. ft)

Height: 3.71 m (12 ft, 2 inch)

Powerplant: one Packard-built, Rolls Royce Merlin, 'V', 12-cylinder, inline, air-cooled piston engine, delivering 1,590 HP.

Maximum Speed: 716 km/h (445 mph)

Range: 1,207 km (750 miles)

Ceiling: 12,770 m (41,900 ft)

Armament: six 12.7-mm M2 Browning machine guns; 127mm rockets; two 454-kg bombs.

Below, a restored P-51 at a California airfield.

A P-51D version in flight around 1945.

Below, the P-51B variant. Notice it had a different cockpit than later versions.

The North American P-51 Mustang in action during WW2 (video).