Untitled Document

The P-51 Mustang Time-line

The Early Model P-51B

Spring 1940- The British purchasing commission, headed by Sir Henry Self asked Dutch Kindelberger, head of the North American Aviation to build a Curtis-designed P-40 for them. Kindelberger offered to design and build the first prototype of the aircraft within 120 days.

October 1940- The first flight of the NA-73x prototype

October 1941- The Mustang Mark I reaches Britain. The Mustang was so promising that the Royal Air Force ordered another 300 aircraft and the USAAF ordered 150.

February 1942- Tactical Reconnaissance: The 26th squadron issued Mark I’s. The early Allison-powered Mustangs were fast and well constructed and had a long range. With their eight guns they packed a punch but since they could not fly in high altitudes they were regulated to low-level tactical reconnaissance. Outfitted with a K24 camera behind the pilot, the Mustang could photograph enemy positions, provide ground support and fight their way out of a jam.

July 1942- First long range Recon. Mission. On July 27, 16 RAF Mustangs undertook a long-range reconnaissance mission, photographing the Dortmund-Ems canal.

August 1942- Dieppe Raid. The “reconnaissance in force” on Aug. 19 gained little for the allies, except the expensive and bloody lesson of how tough German defenses were on the ground and air. The mid operation Jubilee, introduced the typhoon and the spitfire Mk. IX, and marked the first Mustang aerial victory, for mustang squadrons, provided tactical recon. For the ground troops.

October 1942- The Merlin powered Mustang introduced. A Rolls-Royce Merlin powered engine was introduced to the Mustangs. It would turn the Mustang into a decisive weapon, capable of escorting bombers all the way to Berlin. The new engine allowed more speed and turned the low-level fighter into a high-altitude fighter-bomber escort.

June 1943- A36's with the USAAF in MTD, Sicily. The first unit to fly the Mustang in combat was the Morocco-based 154th observation squadron, which used 35 P-51's for a few weeks in April-May.

December 1943- The 354th FG takes Mustang into combat in ETO. The 354th fighter group, dubbed the “pioneers” started flying the P-51B over France in
December of 1943. Originally part of the 9th Air Force it was loaned to the 8th for bomber escort. Don Blakeslee was the CO. and led the 354th on several missions driving pilots hard, he insisted they engage the German fighters and maintain a collision course.

April 1944- The MTO groups get Mustangs, early 1944 the production of the P-51 B/C models begun to accelerate. Among early beneficiaries of the groups was the 31st and the 52nd fighter groups of the 15th Air Force. They formally flew Spitfires but transitioned to Mustangs in April. They would fly as escorts to the B-24 on bombing missions to Ploesti, Romania. They killed 17 aircraft with the loss of only 2.

June 1944- The Arrival of the D-model P-51. It would be by far the most produced version of the Mustang (over 8,000). It improved two drawbacks of the B/C model: poor visibility to the rear and inadequate firepower.

October 1944- Ben Drew downs two jets. The German me 262 jet was faster than the P-51 by 100 mph. In level flight. Their only weakness was their slow acceleration, so this made them vulnerable at take-off. On October 7, 1944 Drew was over Achmer field and surprised two-jets taking off and shot both of them down.

January 1945- Operation Bodenplatte. New Years Day 1945 the Luftwaffe made a final mighty assault. The 352nd group of which John C. Meyer was deputy commander, was operating from field Y-29 Asche, Belgium. That day the Luftwaffe hoped to surprise the allies because they hoped that they would be drunk and hung over and sleeping in their beds. Meyer had been ready for this and postponed the celebration by one day. That day the 352nd was credited with destroying 23 enemy fighters which earned the 457th squadron a Distinguished Unit Citation.