North American P-51A two ship formation of the 1st Air Commandos. Background (#1) plane flown by C.O. Phil Cochran; #13 Miss Virginia flown by Deputy Commander Petty. (U.S. Air Force photo)
North Americna P-51B prepare for take-off, 361st FG, 376th FS; includes S/N 42-106707 "Sleepy Time Gal" and S/N 42-106945 marked E9V. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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 December 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 and 1945, 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 During the Korean War, P-51Ds were used primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in 1953.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force has a P-51D on display.
Type
Number built/
converted
Remarks
XP-51
2
Model NA-73; developed for UK
P-51
150
Prod. model; four 20mm cannon
P-51A
310
Fitted with bomb racks; four .50-cal. mgs.
XP-51B
2 (cv)
Improved P-51; was XP-78
P-51B-NA
1,988
Prod. model; Blocks 1-15; Inglewood
P-51C-NT
1,750
Dallas plant; Blocks 1-11
P-51D-NA
6,502
Bubble canopy; Blocks 1-30
P-51D-NT
1,454
Blocks 5-30; six .50-cal. mgs.
TP-51D-NT
10
Two-place trainer variant
P-51E
0
Designation not assigned
XP-51F
3
Exp. lt. weight test model
XP-51G
2
Modified XP-51F with new engine
P-51H-NA
555
Prod. model; Blocks 1-10
XP-51J
2
Modified XP-51F with new engine
P-51K-NT
1,337
Improved D; Aeroprop; Blocks 1-15
P-51L-NA
1
Improved H with new engine
P-51M-NT
1
Improved H with new engine
TECHNICAL NOTES (P-51D): Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns and 10 5-in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. of bombs Engine: Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650 of 1,695 hp Maximum speed: 437 mph Cruising speed: 275 mph Range: 1,000 miles Service ceiling: 41,900 ft. Span: 37 ft. 0 in. Length: 32 ft. 3 in. Height: 13 ft. 8 in. Weight: 12,100 lbs. maximum
