North
American P-51
Mustang
The P-51 was designed by North American
at Britain's request, and would go onto become one of the most
famous fighter aircraft of WWII. But in 1942, tests of P-51s
using the British Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed
much improved speed and service ceiling, and in December 1943,
the Merlin-powered
P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe.
Service In the Pacific
In the Pacific, P-51D
Mustangs operated in the Philippines, China and off of Iwo
Jima escorting
B-29s
to Japan
from Iwo
Jima.
F-6 Reconnaissance Version
A photo reconnaissance version was known as F-6.
Production
Between
1941-5, the Army Air Force ordered 14,855 Mustangs, of which
7,956 were P-51Ds. Mustangs
served
with
the USAAF, and RAAF in the Pacific.
