Often touted as one of the best fighters of the war, the North American P-51 Mustang actually originated as an under-powered, low altitude strafer with an Allison engine meant for export. However, at the suggestion of a British test pilot, North American redesigned the airplane to accept a Packard-built, super-charged Merlin engine. The Merlin produced 400 horsepower more than the Allison, transforming the Mustang from a modest low altitude fighter-bomber into a potent high altitude fighter. Armed with four or six .50 caliber guns, and amply loaded with gas, the P-51 proved to be just what the 8th Air Force needed as an escort fighter. With a pair of drop tanks it could stay airborne for six hours, enough time to escort bombers from England to Berlin and back. A good fighter in many respects, the Mustang probably has a richer reputation than it deserves. By comparison, the P-51's power-to-weight ratio was less than a Bf109's or Fw190's. Both could out-climb it, and a Bf109K was faster at certain altitudes. A Spitfire could turn better and, given enough altitude, even out-dive it. Nevertheless, the well behaved Mustang was popular with its pilots. When it arrived on the scene, the quality of the enemy pilots it flew against was dropping rapidly. Young Mustang pilots had three to four times as much flight time as the hastily trained German replacements, and as a consequence they scored easily and quickly in the air battles that followed. This, and favorable press, greatly enhanced the Mustang's reputation. A good fighter by design, it became a great fighter by circumstance.
TACTICS: Maneuver hard. You turn better than your German opponents. Make use of it.
STRENGTHS: High top speed, especially at low altitude. Good maneuverability and high ceiling.
WEAKNESSES: The P-51B and C are light on firepower, and their guns can jam in 4G or tighter turns until feed mechanisms fixed in summer 1944. Otherwise you have no significant weaknesses.
MODELS:
B: Original USAAF model.
C: Has more powerful engine.
D-5: Adds high-visibility "bubble" cockpit canopy and two more .50 caliber machineguns.
D-10: Fin extension added to rudder correcting stalled flight problems.
