The P 51 Mustang Story... A Good Read

[REM 3200]

In 1975, while living in San Antonio, I watched as a B-17G, escorted by a pair of P-51Ds,
flew over my house on approach to land at SATX International. The B-17 had
General Ira Eaker on board. He was to make an appearance at some function at Randolph AFB I think.

All the aircraft were provided by the Confederate Air Force in Harlingen, Texas, later to change it's name.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

The whine of the supercharger coming from a P-51 on a low pass is a sound that is truly unforgettable. That sound must have struck fear into the heart of many a German soldier during WWII.

 

[Texas Star]

How many nations used P-51's? I know about the US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Sweden at least had a few that were impounded after forced landings during WW II.

And some tropical American nations had them.

I saw the pic of the A-36 above. The Air Commandos in Burma used them until they got later Mustangs. In that role, I think they served as general use fighters, not as dive bombers. Most air battles were low enough in that theater for the Allison engines to work, as they did on P-40's.

 

[kmyers]

How many nations used P-51's? I know about the US, UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Sweden at least had a few that were impounded after forced landings during WW II.

And some tropical American nations had them.

I saw the pic of the A-36 above. The Air Commandos in Burma used them until they got later Mustangs. In that role, I think they served as general use fighters, not as dive bombers. Most air battles were low enough in that theater for the Allison engines to work, as they did on P-40's.

That is true about P-51s south of the border. One of the few/only P-51 vs F4U encounters was between Honduras and El Salvador during the Football War. Close but the Corsair slightly edged out the P-51 but most likely due to pilot skill.

 

[Kevin G]

Wonderful story, wonderful man, wonderful plane.
Found another great story on the same topic.
Try googling jimmy stewart, sally connors, vista press.
It left me a bit misty, Kevin