The North American P-51 Mustang. To anyone who is an aviation enthusiast, nothing more really needs to be said. If you’re not familiar with the P-51, here’s a few talking points. Some say the Mustang single-handedly changed the tide of WWII in favor of the Allies. Developed in just ~170 days drawing board to production, the Mustang gave the USAF the ability to escort heavy bomber raids during daylight hours deep into Nazi Germany increasing bombing accuracy which helped put down the Nazi industrial machine that was producing its war machines. This had a devastating affect on replacement aircraft lost to war attrition including the fighters such as the Focke-Wolfe 190 that were tasked with defending Germany from the Allied bomber’s new onslaught.
“Ho Hun!” is a P-51D model recognizable by the bubble canopy. The Mustang’s sleek design, laminar flow wing (a first), and it’s bubble canopy (D-model) all made it what was in my opinion, the best fighter of the War. Once fitted with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine (B&C models) that replaced the Allison engine that had poor high-altitude performance, the P-51’s power/speed at high altitudes became unrivaled. The P-51 is credited with the most air to air combat victories of WWII. Beyond those impressive attributes, in my opinion, the P-51’s beauty is second to none in the War Birds Class.
WAR HORSE
This photograph of P-51D Mustang “HO HUN!” was taken at Phoenix Regional Airport at the 2003 Copperstate Fly-In.
View the full “WINGS” Gallery.
IMAGE INFO:
HO HUN 51, WINGS
Camera: Mamiya 7II 6X7cm
Lens: 50mm
Film: Ilford HP4 B/W