WHat was it used For?
The Mustang P-51 was a fighter bomber built towards the end of the war. It's main purpose was dogfighting prior to offensive or defensive air raids. In the last year of the war, Prisoner of War camps began to disband, it became a common occurrence to see these planes, using there bomb holds to airdrop supplies to escaped prisoners of war.
Specifications
The Mustang was designed by and featured a Rolls Royce engine. Designed to out match the German Messerschmitt 9. This amazing feat of ingenuity could fly at 703 km/hr. Equipped with two sets of cannons and machine guns, this plane was renowned for it's overpowering strength.
Production
The Mustang was deployed for military use in 1942 following vigorous, official testing. in a matter of months the North American Aviation (NAA) massed produced over 15,000 heavy duty aircraft costing $50,985 each. This craft took part in most of the significant conquests at the end of the war. Including the march on Berlin. Ironically, the Mustangs took part in a reverse Blitzkrieg* when finishing the war. After their incredibly successful campaigns in WW2, the Mustang stayed in service till 1984 (an incredible 42 years). This plane was so cutting edge that it was replaced by supersonic flight.
Retirement
As you may expect, a plane of such prestige is not simply cast away and melted down. Many of the planes that survived their days in service, became part of warbird flight shows. Some were placed in Airforce museums and the rest became aircrafts for joy flights.
Technical Terms
Luftwaffe: German for Airforce
Blitzkrieg: German war technique that involved heavy bombing to weaken the enemy. Spitfire: Allied plane that was used in Dogfights and reconnaissance missions.
Messerschmitt: Large, armoured, German dogfighter
Dogfighting: Aircraft against aircraft fights that precede air raids
Carpet Bombing: The constant bombardment of a single town by multiple planes, essentially carpeting the town until it is flattened.
Fire Bombings: Incendiary grade bombs that explode and linger as indelible flames
Blitzkrieg: German war technique that involved heavy bombing to weaken the enemy. Spitfire: Allied plane that was used in Dogfights and reconnaissance missions.
Messerschmitt: Large, armoured, German dogfighter
Dogfighting: Aircraft against aircraft fights that precede air raids
Carpet Bombing: The constant bombardment of a single town by multiple planes, essentially carpeting the town until it is flattened.
Fire Bombings: Incendiary grade bombs that explode and linger as indelible flames