|
The P-51 was designed as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The
design showed promise and AAF purchases of Allison-powered Mustangs
began in 1941 primarily for photo recon and ground support use due
to its limited high-altitude performance. But in 1942, tests of
P-51s using the British Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed much
improved speed and service ceiling, and in Dec. 1943, Merlin-powered
P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe. Providing high-altitude
escort to
B-17s
and B-24s,
they scored heavily over German interceptors and by war's end, P-51s
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 where they escorted B-29s to
Japan from Iwo Jima. Between 1941-5, the AAF ordered 14,855 Mustangs
(including
A-36A
dive bomber and F-6 photo recon versions), of which 7,956 were
P-51Ds. During the
Korean War, P-51Ds were used primarily for close support of
ground forces until withdrawn from combat in 1953. |
TYPE
XP-51
P-51
P-51A
XP-51B
P-51B-NA
P-51C-NT
P-51D-NA
P-51D-NT
TP-51D-NT
P-51E
XP-51F
XP-51G
P-51H-NA
XP-51J
P-51K-NT
P-51L-NA
P-51M-NT |
Number built/Converted
2
150
310
2 (cv)
1988
1750
6502
1454
10
0
3
2
555
2
1337
0
1 |
Remarks
Model NA-73; Developed for UK
Prod. model; 4 20mm cannon
Fitted w/ bomb racks; 4 .50-cal. mgs
Imp. P-51; was XP-78
Prod. model; Blks 1-15; Inglewood
Dallas Plant; Blks 1-11
Bubble Canopy; Blks 1-30
Blks 5-30; 6 .50-cal. mgs.
2-place trainer variant
Model not assigned
Exp. lt. weight test model
Mod. XP-51F w/ new eng.
Prod. model; Blks 1-10
Mod. XP-51F w/ new eng.
Imp. -D; Aeroprop; Blks 1-15
Imp. -H w/ new eng.
Imp. -H w/ new eng. |
SPECIFICATIONS
P-51D
Span: 37 ft. 0 in.
Length: 32 ft. 3 in.
Height: 13 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 12,100 lbs. max.
Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns and ten 5 in. rockets or
2,000 lbs. of bombs.
Engine: Packard built
Rolls-Royce "Merlin" V-1650 of 1,695 hp.
Cost: $54,000
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 437 mph.
Cruising speed: 275 mph.
Range: 1,000 miles
Service Ceiling: 41,900 ft.
Source:
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p51.htm |
James D. West 
