Difference between revisions of "P-51 Mustang"
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| − | While the P-51 is most famous for its service in the European theater, several Mustang units served in Asia and the Pacific. The first Mustangs in the theater were assigned to the [[China]]-[[Burma]]-[[India]] front in September 1943. Mustangs also joined the fighting in the [[Philippines]] and central Pacific in 1945.<ref>''Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI'', by John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 1999</ref> | + | While the P-51 is most famous for its service in the European theater, several Mustang units served in Asia and the Pacific. The first Mustangs in the theater were assigned to the [[China]]-[[Burma]]-[[India]] front in September 1943. Mustangs also joined the fighting in the [[Philippines]] and central Pacific in 1945. The highest scoring Mustang ace of the Pacific theater was Major John "Pappy" Herbst, who shot down 14 Japanese planes while flying the P-51 with the 74th Fighter Squadron at the CBI front, in addition to four kills in the P-40.<ref>''Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI'', by John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 1999</ref> |
| − | A large number of P-51s served in the [[Korean War]] as well, mainly in ground support missions.<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, 2000</ref> | + | A large number of P-51s served in the [[Korean War]] as well, mainly in ground support missions.<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, 2000</ref> In 1969, Mustangs saw action for the last time in the air force of [[El Salvador]], during the brief "Soccer War" with [[Honduras]].<ref>[http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars1900s/p/footballwar.htm The Football War]</ref> One of them was lost in aerial combat with an F4U Corsair.<ref>http://users.accesscomm.ca/magnusfamily/hon69hon.htm</ref> |
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==F-82 Twin Mustang== | ==F-82 Twin Mustang== | ||
Revision as of 22:06, September 22, 2008
The P-51 Mustang was an Allied fighter plane of WWII. This plane served in the European and Pacific Theaters, and is probably the most well known airplane of the war. The P-51 was the first fighter plane flown by the Allies that had the range to escort bombers to any target in Europe. This dramatically reduced bomber losses, increased losses of German Luftwaffe planes, and made bombing missions much more effective. It had a Rolls Royce engine and six heavy machine guns. Over 15,000 P-51s were produced during the war. The most numerous (and well-known) version of this fighter was the P-51D, with a distinctive bubble canopy and large fuel capacity.[1]
While the P-51 is most famous for its service in the European theater, several Mustang units served in Asia and the Pacific. The first Mustangs in the theater were assigned to the China-Burma-India front in September 1943. Mustangs also joined the fighting in the Philippines and central Pacific in 1945. The highest scoring Mustang ace of the Pacific theater was Major John "Pappy" Herbst, who shot down 14 Japanese planes while flying the P-51 with the 74th Fighter Squadron at the CBI front, in addition to four kills in the P-40.[2]
A large number of P-51s served in the Korean War as well, mainly in ground support missions.[3] In 1969, Mustangs saw action for the last time in the air force of El Salvador, during the brief "Soccer War" with Honduras.[4] One of them was lost in aerial combat with an F4U Corsair.[5]
F-82 Twin Mustang
This plane was a long-range fighter made by combining two lengthened Mustang fuselages with a common wing. The resulting twin-engine, two pilot fighter had a greater speed and longer range than the P-51.[6] The plane was first conceived as a long-range escort fighter for B-29 bombing raids on Japan, but the first planes weren’t delivered until after the Japanese surrender. However, the Twin Mustang saw service as an interceptor in first year of the Korean War. On June 27, 1950, Twin Mustangs flying cover over Kimpo airport scored the first aerial victories of the war for the USAF when they shot down three single-engine Yak-7 fighters for no losses.[7] Some also served as night fighters.
References
- ↑ Aircraft vs. Aircraft, by Norman Franks, Barnes & Noble Books, 1998
- ↑ Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI, by John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 1999
- ↑ Aces, by William Yenne, 2000
- ↑ The Football War
- ↑ http://users.accesscomm.ca/magnusfamily/hon69hon.htm
- ↑ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft of World War II, by Bill Gunston, Salamander Military Press, 1990
- ↑ Rolling Thunder: Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War, by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997
External Links
- History of the Mustang at Acepilots.com
- P-51 Mustang by Ray Wagner
- Cuban Mustangs
- Dogfights of the P-51 at YouTube.