History of the P-51 Mustang

Early in WWII Allied commanders decided the only way to achieve decisive victory in a European ground war was to first cripple the Third Reich from the air. A key part of this strategy was the use of daring daylight bombing raids. These raids were always costly, but they were especially so in the beginning.

USAF Museum Photo Archive

Before 1943, the Allies simply didn't have any fighters that could escort their bombers across the English Channel, deep into German territory and back again. The limited range of the British and American fighters of the time meant they often had to return to base before the bombers they escorted reached their targets. Without escort, Allied losses were staggering. Luftwaffe fighter pilots would simply wait until the escorts turned back and then pounce, savaging the bomber formations.

The Mustang changed all that.

Click the buttons below to hear the sound of the P-51's Rolls-Royce Merlin engine:
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Designed at the request of Britain by the North American Aviation Company, the P-51 began life in 1940 as the NA-73 prototype. The first variant to see service, the P-51A, was powered by an American-made Allison V-12. It served well as a fast recon platform and ground support fighter, but the Allison didn't have the kind of high altitude performance necessary for long range bomber escort. In 1942 North American started testing the Mustang with Britain's phenomenal Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12. Developing almost 1,700 h.p., the Merlin gave the Mustang the kind of high-altitude performance and speed necessary for long-range escort.

In December of 1943, the first Merlin powered P-51's entered the fray in the skies over Europe. Luftwaffe pilots, accustomed to attacking unescorted bombers, suddenly found themselves in the fight of their lives with a new American fighter that was every bit their equal . . . and then some. Mustang's scored heavily over German interceptors, claiming 4,950 aerial kills by war's end-more than any other fighter in the European theatre.

The Mustang's devastating effects on the Reich were double edged. Not only did P-51 pilots decimate the ranks of experienced Luftwaffe pilots, but many more Allied bombers reached their targets, crippling the Nazi war machine. No other fighter in the European theatre had such a profound effect on the balance of power than the Mustang.

During its production run, 7,956 Mustangs were built in several different versions. The most popular of these was the P-51D. It can easily be identified by its distinctive bubble canopy. With a maximum speed of 437 mph and a ceiling of 41,900 feet, the "D" was by far the most powerful Mustang ever built. Some of aviation's most famous figures flew the "D" model Mustang into combat including test pilot Chuck Yeager and veteran air show performer Bob Hoover.

USAF Museum Photo Archive

Today, roughly 150 "D" models live on in flying condition. Some are used in unlimited air racing, but most are the prized possessions of adoring, and we might add extremely wealthy, collectors. A P-51D which rolled off the assembly line back in 1944 at a cost of $54,000 to Uncle Sam will fetch as much as $1 million or more today.

But the Mustang's enduring magic doesn't lie in anything quite as concrete as an astronomical price tag. Those lucky enough to have actually seen one fly and felt the earth tremble with the spine tingling roar of the Merlin know there is nothing like it anywhere. The experience is completely visceral, a thrilling combination of awe and adrenaline.

Such is the stuff of legend.

Specifications
Wingspan:		37 ft.
Length:		32 ft. 3 in.
Height:		13 ft. 8 in.
Max Weight:		.12,100 lbs. max.
Performance
Max Speed:		437 mph.
Cruising speed:		275 mph.
Ceiling:		41,900 ft.
Max Range:		1,000 miles
Powerplant:		Packard built Rolls-Royce "Merlin" V-1650 of 1,695 hp.
Armament:		Six .50-cal. machine guns and ten 5 in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. of bombs.

Further Reading:

P-51 Mustang History and Technical Information

North American P-51 "Mustang"

Combat Aircraft of World War Two: North American P-51/A-36 Mustang

American WWII Aircraft: North American P-51 Mustang