The P-51 was the best American fighter of WWII.
The P-51 was the first allied fighter plane to attack targets in Germany in 1942. The early versions (Mustang Mk I, Mark II, P-51A, and A-36 Apache dive bomber) were all faster, more agile and had greater range than RAF Spitfires of the same period below 15,000 feet.
When the P-51B came out in 1943, It was powered by the Packard V-1650 engine, a brand new and improved American design of the famed Rolls Royce Merlin engine. With this powerplant, the P-51 gained a climb rate of 3,900 fpm, a service ceiling of 42, 000 ft and a top speed of 458 mph at War emergency power.
Above 300 mph the P-51 could out-roll any axis fighter and had a tighter turn radius. Add to that an ability to take A LOT of battle damage and still get home and you get the picture.
As soon as the 8th Air Force got hold of the P-51, the groups that flew it started getting kill ratios that exceeded as much as 30 to 1 on quite a lot of missions.
The P-51 Mustang is so special because of the effect it had on the allied cause of WWII. Many allied pilots like Don Blakeslee, Don Gentile, Kit Carson, Robin Olds, and Lee Archer all became great aces flying the P-51 while units that flew the airplane scored great victories that still stir the hearts of freedom-lovers everywhere.
The P-51 shot down 4,950 aircraft in Europe alone and it’s victories in the Mediterranean and Asian theaters of war boost its score to over 5,300 kills.
How would these Spitfires fare against the American P-51 Mustang?
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The P-51 was the best American fighter of WWII. The P-51 was the first allied fighter plane to attack targets in Germany in 1942. The early versions (Mustang Mk I, Mark II, P-51A, and A-36 Apache dive bomber) were all faster, more agile and had greater range than RAF Spitfires of the same period below 15,000 feet.
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How would these Spitfires fare against the American P-51 Mustang?
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