In 1940, at the request of the British, the P-51A ("Mustang") fighter plane was designed by North American Aviation. The design
showed promise and purchases of Allison-powered Mustangs began in
1941, primarily for photo reconnaissance and ground support use due to it's limited
high-altitude performance. But in 1942, tests of P-51B's using the British
Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed a much improved speed and service ceiling.
In late 1943, Merlin-powered P-51B's entered into air combat over Europe.
Providing high-altitude escort to B-17's and B-24's, the Mustang's scored heavily over
German interceptors. By the end of the war, P-51's had destroyed 4,950 enemy
aircraft in the air, more than any other fighter in Europe.
Mustangs served in nearly every combat zone, including the Pacific. Over 14,800 P-51's were
built by North American Aviation. During the Korean Conflict, P-51D's were used
primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in
1953.
Source and Links:
U.S.A.F. Museum.
New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum
National Aviation Museum, Canada
Curtis Fowles, P-51 Mustang Links
Top scorer of the 357th Fighter Group with 18.5 aerial victories (plus 3.5 more by strafing) was Leonard ‘Kit’ Carson. Scoring all of his kills in a single tour with the 362nd Fighter Squadron and using five Mustang’s all called ‘Nooky Booky’, he in fact achieved most of his tally in the last six months of the war in his fourth Mustang, a P-51K (Nooky Booky IV), including five in one sortie on 27th November 1944.
History Channel Edition.
Scale: 1/72, Wingspan: 6.25"
Loose Parts: (not suitable for young children)
Fully assembled.
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