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Picture from P51
The North American P-51 is one of the truly great aircraft of all time. Early Mustang models, powered by an Allison in-line engine, were good low-level aircraft, it was the introduction of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine in later models that would make the Mustang come into its own. With its basic simplicity of design, coupled with beautiful lines, had great potential for development, and the Mustang would excel in fields: as a hard hitting low-level fighter-bomber, and a long range high-altitude escort fighter. The Mustang could deliver a formidable volume of gunfire, rockets and bombs and with the addition of drop-tanks it became the first allied fighter to penetrate as far as Berlin and Tokyo. The Mustang was a great fighter, what’s remarkable is that the Mustang was designed to British specification, and it was one of few aircraft to be designed during the war to enter very widespread service.
Edited By Josh Anderson December 12, 2002