P-51 MUSTANG, North American Fighter. Exceptional World War 2 Memories. Documentary

P-51 Mustang, the legendary North American Fighter. Listen to stories and memories of heroes and veterans.
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kindelberger of North American Aviation (NAA) in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Rather than build an old design from another company, North American Aviation proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter. The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on 9 September 1940, 102 days after the contract was signed, and first flew on 26 October.
The Mustang was designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance in its earlier variants. The aircraft was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter bomber (Mustang Mk I). Replacing the Allison with a Rolls-Royce Merlin resulted in the P-51B/C (Mustang Mk III) model, and transformed the aircraft's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft (4,600 m) (without sacrificing range), allowing it to compete with the Luftwaffe's fighters. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the two-speed, two-stage-supercharged Merlin 66, and was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns.
At the start of the Korean War, the Mustang, by then redesignated F-51, was the main fighter of the United States until jet fighters, including North American's F-86, took over this role; the Mustang then became a specialized fighter-bomber. Despite the advent of jet fighters, the Mustang remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s. After the Korean War, Mustangs became famous civilian warbirds and air racing aircraft.
North American Aviation (NAA) was already supplying its T-6 Texan (known in British service as the "Harvard") trainer to the RAF but was otherwise underused. NAA President "Dutch" Kindelberger approached Self to sell a new medium bomber, the North American B-25 Mitchell. Instead, Self asked if NAA could manufacture P-40s under license from Curtiss. Kindelberger said NAA could have a better aircraft with the same Allison V-1710 engine in the air sooner than establishing a production line for the P-40.
Specifications (P-51D Mustang)
3-view drawing of P-51D Mustang
Nose of a P-51 Gunfighter
Wing with three .50 caliber machine guns
Data from the Erection and Maintenance Manual for P-51D and P-51K, P-51 Tactical Planning Characteristics & Performance Chart, The Great Book of Fighters, and Quest for Performance
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft (11 m)
Height: 13 ft 4.5 in (4.077 m) tail wheel on the ground, vertical propeller blade
Wing area: 235 sq ft (21.8 m2)
Aspect ratio: 5.83
Airfoil: NAA/NACA 45-100
Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,463 kg)
Gross weight: 9,200 lb (4,173 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,488 kg) 5,490
Fuel capacity: 269 US gal (224 imp gal; 1,020 l)
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163
Drag area: 3.80 sqft (0.35 m²)
Powerplant: 1 × Packard (Rolls Royce) V-1650-7 Merlin 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, 1,490 hp (1,110 kW) at 3,000 rpm 1,720 hp (1,280 kW) at WEP
Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed, variable-pitch, 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 440 mph (710 km/h, 383 kn)
Cruise speed: 362 mph (583 km/h, 315 kn)
Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
Range: 1,650 mi (2,660 km, 1,434 nmi) with external tanks
Service ceiling: 41,900 ft (12,800 m)
Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16 m/s)
Lift-to-drag: 14.6
Wing loading: 39 lb/sq ft (190 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg)
Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
Guns: 6 × .50 caliber (12.7mm) AN/M2 Browning machine guns with 1,840 total rounds (380 rounds for each on the inboard pair and 270 rounds for each of the outer two pairs)
Rockets: 6 or 10 × 5.0 in (127 mm) T64 HVAR rockets (P-51D-25, P-51K-10 on)
Bombs: 1 × 100 lb (45 kg) or 250 lb (110 kg) bomb or 500 lb (230 kg) bomb on hardpoint under each wing
#p51 #p51mustang #fighteraircraft

[@Dronescapes]

Click the link to watch more aircraft, heroes, and their stories, and missions: www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes

[@mrt2this607]

Noticed a somewhat uncanny thing. Have you ever seen the movie Hurricane, about Polish pilots during the Battle of Britain? This American commander who pulled strings to outfit his men with P51's(Blaksly?), very much resembles the actor who played the Canadian pilot/commander for the British. Pretty good movie too, ending isn't great but it's factual.

[@johndemeen5575]

Opps.

[@dianedougwhale7260]

@MrT2 this Its quite possible to read the logical reasons for the success of RAF POLISH HURRICANS and Spitfires - these were experienced Fighter Pilots with a very strong desire to kill Germans - not just their aircraft - they would come in very quickly and very close and only then open fire with their 8 machine guns and later 4 × 20 mm. Cannon. The Australian Caldwell flying P40s with the Allison - top scorer in North Africa- against ME 109 F and G because of gunnery technique using a supposedly inferior aircraft ( not at lower levels - in the right hands ) actually very slightly faster on the deck than the Merlin powered P40s. Likewise the Allison Mustangs right on the deck were slightly faster than the Merlin P51s Actually very few WW2 Fighters could get the genuine 400 mph. at SeaLevel. HAWKER TEMPEST .

[@dianedougwhale7260]

Nearly EVERY USA origin War History Documentary a knowledgeable person reads or views is VOMIT 🤮 Inducing - you would have to conclude there is Yank Advertising Industry Involvment - ( never mention Henry Fords gifts to Adenoids HEINKEL) and that deviate Hoover ( vacuum cleaner salesperson) love of Nazism. ( and well known hatred of Jews) Comrade Adenoids Heinkel love ❤️ d The Ford and GM trucks - So did P47s - Typhoons - P40s and -Stormoviks - never mind - Ford and GM were compensated later - never get between a Capitalist and DOLLAR !

[@austerarrow4061]

Please, let us be ”brothers in arms”!!! I love the Spitfire and the Mustang❤️❤️❤️ Also think, with lesser reability, Me 109 and Fock Wulf were masterpieces. Me 262 probably, albeit too late a supurb flying machine…

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

It’s terrific listening to the pilots laying down the history in their own words and experiences

[@Dronescapes]

👍👍

[@colindouglas7769]

As someone who came into the world less than 20 years after these brave boys were doing this stuff, I have always been more than grateful to them for what they sacrificed for me. They won the peace I continue to enjoy today. These boys gave their tomorrow for my today!

[@Dronescapes]

👍

[@jagtone]

Same.

[@carywest9256]

You must have been born in the early '60s as myself.l was into WWII history as a young boy in Texas. My Grampa West didn't fight in the War,but his three younger brothers all joined up after Pearl Harbor. They were in the 36th. Division, its patch was the arrowhead with a capital T inside of the emblem. Luckily, all three came back alive. But Uncle Leon passed away before l was born. My Uncle Leroy wouldn't talk about the War, and Uncle Willard would just comment about Gen. Mark Clark being a bastard. Only later would l understand why Uncle Willard made that statement. Greetings from Texas...

[@Dronescapes]

@@carywest9256 Bless them

[@warbonnet64]

No one could have stated that better than you. Yes, God bless every one of those brave soul's

[@johnbarnes4998]

The pilot describing his heroic missions bailing out over a tank battle and diving down after a 262 with his plane coming apart is a delight to hear. Great documentary. Thanks.

[@MrHuggybear62]

The war made men out of boys plus they flew the best plane in the world

[@dan8402]

The P-51 Mustang is one of the most iconic, beautiful, and amazing aircraft I have ever had the joy to watch fly! I will say it can get a bit wonky when you really try to go slow, but at cruise it is like a leopard in the sky.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Exactly.

[@clearlakerain]

My dad flew the brand new supercharged P-51 in the Pacific theater. His jacket had a 5 with wings on it. I assume it was for the Fifth Army Air-core, His short Snorter was over 30feet long. I donated it to the flight museum at Bay View Air Field, Skagit County, Washington State in his honer, Lt Richard J, Medcalf (my dad). Dad was General Hap Arnold's personal pilot for a few weeks when Hap needed to be ferried from one spot to another, in and around the Philippians Island nation. His mother my grandmother had lied for dad saying he was 18 when he was only 16, After 2 years of cadet training in Texas his squadron with all new fighters were ordered to fly easterly and catch up with MacArthur somewhere in the Philippines . Having to fly over so many countries collecting paper dollars for his short snorter, he always has the longest one in the officers club, Knowing him he used that to his advantage,, I admired him and wanted to fly myself but the loss of my right eye put an end to my dreams.Later in my life at about 50 years I took flying lessens, got my single engine land license. Then about 100 hours of acrobatic training, I know what I was like at 18 but can not imagine dad getting behind a 1500+ horsepower Royal Royce with supercharged to boot. He did and told me the torque was so strong at take off that one needed to fly it off the runway. One didn't just hop in give it full throttle and gather speed for lift off. The tremendous torque would want to turn the plane to one side of the runway. Thanks Dad for your service to our country. Ronald Medcalf

[@bobsakamanos4469]

The torque actually tries to roll the aircraft to port. A host of other factors swing the nost to the left - P-factor, slipstream, adverse yaw, increased friction on left tire (due to torque roll), then gyroscopic precession as the tail rises. Still, that's a great memory for you.

[@e-rj8984]

Some of the BEST presentation of The P-51 Mustang ever here at KZbin 👍🇺🇸

[@markkettlewell7441]

My grandfather was one of the engineers on the Rolls Royce Merlin engine development. He never went to war, they wouldn’t let him since his work on the engine and his engineering skills were too important. But I am so proud of his contribution. 😊

[@donholmes3267]

Yes airline manufacturers do not let one do what they want to do . Building aircraft is a very disciplined process ! Rather then draw them , I wanted to help put them together, no way !

[@markpaul-ym5wg]

You did a great job on this video.😊

[@trevermcdonald2402]

It is often forgot that the P51 was designed by a brilliant team of American engineers who were chosen by the British to design a new long range fighter to the RAFs specifications, this was done in record time. The P51 was a beautiful looking aircraft but unfortunately not very good at actually fighting the enemy, nor did it have the required range. The British decided to loose the American engine for the British Rolls Royce Merlin engine which totally changed the performance and range capabilities of P51 from an average fighter to a brilliant killing machine. Britain gave the United States license to build the Merlin in The US and Packard undertook that work, building thousands of Merlin engines. The P51 turned out to be a winner thanks to the initial design of the airframe and its marriage to the Rolls Royce engine. This program says little of the Rolls Royce Engine and that is unfortunate because without the Merlin the P51 would be just a footnote in the history of WW11. The same applies to Penicilin, the first antibiotic which saved hundreds and thousands of allied lives, a British discovery given to the US, The Jet Engine too and an effective radar system, most importantly 10cm Radar and the cavity microton, which could pick out a submarines periscope from miles away and which now powers all microwave ovens. The first modem computer was also given to the US which started IBM on its way to post war dominance of the computer revolution. .

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Kindelberger was fed up with the incompetent Allison management and asked the BPC for RR documents to install the Merlin XX in Mar 1941. Allison tried to convince NAA that an aux supercharger would do the same as a 2-stage supercharger, however it wouldn't fit in the Mustang cowl. It also had no intercooler, aftercooler or backfire screens. GM then interferred to prevent NAA from competing for the fighter competion. The rest (A-36, P-51A, B) is history.

[@crashburn3292]

IMO, a P-51 pilot telling WWII dogfighting is the second best sound in aviation. The best sound is a Mustang and it's Merlin engine roaring by. Great video. As good as anything on TV, like "Air Power."

[@AutoCrete]

Up close and live the sound is hard to comprehend. If you scroll up a couple of comments I left a more detailed description in my reply.

[@jagtone]

Anything with a Merlin sounds good. A Spit's as good, a Mossie (2 Merlins) or a Lanc (4) sounds even better! (Or at least louder.)

[@RailgunCat]

Love the P-51, one of my favorite classic warplanes!

[@Dronescapes]

👍👍👍

[@ricomock2]

The P-51d is just an insanely sexy plane

[@bias0437]

​@Shawn 🏴‍☠️ Stafford Its a beauty, love the F82.

[@sharoncassell9358]

The Tuskegee museum is restoring one now 2023.

[@doughartsel803]

Fantastic to hear the comments of pilots who flew this legendary aircraft. I’ve seen them in air shows. Very impressive

[@goodcopbadcop9872]

Except this is a fake video.

[@mr.cookie7308]

There is absolutely no question the Mustang won the air war over Europe. And the best fighter group were the Tuskegee Fighter Group, amazing story.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Yes, and then no. They were average.

[@chrismartin6544]

Truly one of the sexiest planes ever devised

[@MGB-learning]

Beautiful aircraft.

[@antonioperez2623]

Fantastic video history of Bud Anderson's dogfights. Bravo! 👏👏👏

[@jaypercy5974]

Beautiful looking fighters

[@trex860]

One evening in the early 90’s at the air museum in Richmond VA, there was a special guest, a former German Luftwaffe pilot. He told several stories of his flying days during WWII, including one harrowing day where he evaded several P51’s. At the end of his talk, a few men sitting in front of me stood up and stretched out a bit; they were all wearing baseball style hats with P51 emblems on them. They were all giving each other skeptical looks as they reflected on the evening, and one of them finally said: “That bastard got lucky”.

[@southerncross86]

Telling the other side bastard after 70 years!

[@mclarenscca]

The Mustang is my favorite prop driven plane, and the Corsair comes in at a close second!!!

[@bobmalack481]

No the tough P47 Thunderboldt especially in the bubble canopy late war 'D trim variant. Robert at 69.

[@raymondtorres-gy8uj]

This plane is my favorite simply because my father gave me a Big box set with war soldiers and the biggest piece was a beautyful P-51, that was my first C-mas i was like 3 years old and it was really the three kings day, that was my best day ever i never forgot that about my dad....I was hooked with that plane the same day i just could'nt get enough of it...

[@barrywestmoreland1872]

This was the best show of WW2 about the place the P51 was used to defeat the enemy of any aircraft. So thank you pilots of WW2 for your efforts. You were the best but to all of the services THANK YOU!!!

[@codyvirga]

Best I’ve watched so far, thank you!

[@duketogo5697]

I love P51 Mustangs type D best.

[@robertlewis7237]

THANK YOU FOR VIDEO

[@jamesdamron2065]

Just watching 1 fly around is awesome!! Glad there are some still around & fly!!

[@carlkidd752]

The P-38 is my favorite.

[@jasonbrown3632]

I pick the P-47 "Jug"... a beast up high and down low, and will always get you home...

[@Michael-fi3uu]

F4u is up there with the most recognizable birds, definitely my favorite and used also in Korea

[@jeff-hopkins]

Was that the one with the removable fuel tank? (Good for long distance flights......) Didn't it also have the double fuselage? --Or, am I confused? --Could easily be.... I'm not so educated on the topic of historical militay planes. 😢

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Sadly, Lockheed was prevented from installing Merlins. The "Allison time bombs" were a nightmare.

[@_Ben4810]

18:18 That picture is incredible....👌🙏👍

[@dne9394]

Clearly the best fighter of WW2. Others may have had some unique specialties, the P-51 did it all well.

[@florencemodina6293]

German made is better.

[@namenloser419]

The ta 152 Was realy better and the fw longnose

[@namenloser419]

It was not the p51 it was the mass

[@AwDaleYeah]

@@jacktattis the spitfire is a great fighter. But it’s short range and lack of payload make your argument null and void. The p51 was by far the best all around single piston engine fighter of WW2.

[@timsearle5837]

Clearly? How so? Beaten by the spitfire in almost every important area. Top speed, Climb rate, turning circle, armament... Add to that without the British Rolls Royce engine, it would never have gotten its high altitude wings. We liked it for ground recon etc, but would put a Spit in the air against a Messerschmitt or a Zero Every time.

[@DarkKatzy013]

goes to show what we can do when we work together. amazing video .

[@desertmandan123]

It does indeed, we English put up with a lot until the Americans came into the War...but, dare I say it, the English brains and engineering skills shone through in every aspect of WW2.

[@emerkamp1]

Early Merlin’s had their fare share of problems fixed by Packard. Early Merlin's still had single stage superchargers. Alison were stuck with single stage turbo-superchargers because the Army had contracted Turbo-superchargers with GE so Alison never got the R&D needed to develop dual stage. Early on the US Army were for Turbo's in the Turbo vs Supercharger debate for weight and other pros,

[@desertmandan123]

@@emerkamp1 Maybe they did, but we English designed and built them....

[@emerkamp1]

@@desertmandan123 Um, Mustang engines were built by Packard in the US. Just saying their were lots more to it than the video shows, Another 1 overlooked was the invent of high test gas from the US. When No engine at the time could produce high output HP without it.

[@desertmandan123]

@@emerkamp1 FFS, The RAF fitted a Merlin to the Mustang (Which we named by the way) and the results were outstanding....try and understand what your histroy regarding this iconic aircraft is.

[@metatechhd]

🛩🔥✈ The P-51 Mustang holds a special place in aviation history, and it's always a thrilling sight to see it soaring through the skies. Its role in World War II and the memories associated with it are truly exceptional. I'm curious to learn more about the documentary and delve deeper into the captivating stories behind this iconic fighter aircraft. 🛩🔥✈

[@AutoCrete]

I can't tell you much about the P51 but have operated war surplus Merlin’s powering frac pumps. They were ideal for use in both the north and south ends of Alberta and saw 'war emergency' throttle and RPM on a fairly regular basis. I did witness a few blowing up and dumping 12.5 gallons of engine oil on the ground. They were a brilliant engine that were used into the 1980's at the very least. The sound of 3 Merlin's working hard near 3,000 RPM while close together is a mechanical symphony that you can feel hitting your chest!

[@amandastevenson4948]

Chuck Yeager had a good story the Hamilton standard prop among other combinations helped our fighter pilots to succeed

[@onlythatonetime]

My grandfather (American Army Engineer during WWII) commented that it was always inspiring to see these guys flying overhead in France.

[@americanpatriot2422]

Outstanding video

[@silvercarter7500]

So smooth

[@jameslee954]

Amazing guys , and role models too

[@jamesdamron2065]

P 51 C &D is the greatest fighter ever , straight up,,hands down!! Just beautiful just to look at

[@Johnnycdrums]

What beautiful thing, that "D" model, photo and video taken from upstairs.

[@chipsawdust5816]

A local antique airplane owner in my town has a B model P-51, which I believe was built in 1943. He says he likes it better than the D models, but then again, he's never flown it in anger (the bubble saved lives). He claims the razorback empennage gives it better handling than the later models. I dunno - never flown one. But he's flown several different ones so I'll have to take his word for it. Regardless, it's a cream puff example of the first model with the Merlin in it and it sounds fantastic.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

The B model was actually a little faster, only had four guns and better ailerons.

[@johnhummer265]

Can't imagine how replacing the Allison engine with the Merlin engine in the P 51 fighter much earlier in the war, would've changed so much in the war itself!! And, btw, what an excellent documentary on this superb aircraft!!

[@tuco0x]

A 55 minute documentary about the Mustang and not one word about its laminar flow wings that contributed both to its speed and range.

[@zedoktor979]

The wings really weren’t laminar flow in practice. They were quite sensitive to dirt, scratches, even bug splatter that were unavoidable in the field. The NACA test foils were laminar flow only due to the incredible precision they could produce in the lab environment. It didn’t matter much though, the wing was still a very low drag design and certainly helped set the plane apart.

[@bobkohl6779]

First P-51 was the A-36 Apache, Allison powered.

[@allangibson8494]

No - the Apache was developed from the original P-51 (with no following letters) supplied to the RAF. Lend lease aircraft all received US designations even if no USAAC pilots ever flew them.

[@lightningmcqueen181]

Thank God for the guys who 1st hypothesized merging the British Spitfires Superior Merlin Engine in the in the P-51 Airframe . They changed the face of the entire war

[@theoracle6639]

That would be the British. They were also responsible for the paper mache drop tanks, the bubble canopy and the Mustangs gunsight,

[@bobsakamanos4469]

That was NAA Kindelberger in March 1941. He was fed up with Allison incompetence and GM interference. He asked for and receive RR documents for installation of the Merlin XX in 1941.

[@KirksReport]

That American Officer, Tommy Hitchcock, was a WWI hero, the first American to shoot down an enemy plane, one of the best polo players in the world and F Scott Fitzgerald’s inspiration for The Great Gatsby.

[@gogeo804]

Excelent vídeo, well done

[@skyden24195]

An aircraft hobby group that operates around March A.R.B., CA (near where I live) has a P-51 Mustang among its ranks. I'm always thrilled to see the iconic aircraft flying overhead; most recently during an airshow which had occurred only a few weeks ago.

[@amandastevenson4948]

I live in Canada now but from Lake Perris I used to watch b-52s taking off from March

[@richardbrewer8301]

I used to work near an airport where a guy had a few world war ll airplanes , and one of those was a P51 , and when it flew over there was no mistaking the sound of that Rolls-Royce engine , it's unmistakable !!!!

[@kenneth9874]

It was a Packard built merlin

[@pavelrak8906]

Avesome.- thx a lot!

[@MDSBock]

Well done great video...

[@jamesireland6606]

Fantastic documentary thank you

[@Dronescapes]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ohlawd3699]

Looks really, really good. But I still prefer the P-47. 😁👍

[@Dronescapes]

Fair enough!

[@neilhaas]

❤😊👍🤗☺️🇺🇸 love the P 51 Mustang besides the F4U Corsair my favorite fighters.

[@mikedevere]

My dad flew these in RAF 26 SQ, part of the Tactical Air Force. He flew mostly low altitude photo reconnaissance ahead of D day landings. Later the squadron also provided spotting and gunnery guidance for the naval artillery during D day invasion on Sword and Juno beaches although this was with a later version of the p51.

[@peebeedee6757]

Credits to your dad.

[@mikedevere]

@@peebeedee6757 thank you. The role gets so little coverage. If you've ever seen the photo collage that was created, you'll appreciate the incredible accuracy that was required when positioning the aircraft, whilst under fire, to take the shots. My dad always said you're not dead as long as you're remembered by someone and so I do what I can to keep him alive. I'm not a historian, unfortunately, and wouldn't know where to begin to put a documentary together.

[@peebeedee6757]

@@mikedevere Mike, try the RAF Museum at Hendon. They could have info on your fathers unit, even on himself and if you have photos, logbooks, his background, could maybe put you in touch with someone who could write up a documentary for you.

[@mikedevere]

Thanks 👍

[@genesauter4755]

It's funny that people compare the p51 to the corsair f4u to different planes for different roles

[@amandastevenson4948]

Always have always will paths diverge but then they come together

[@jagtone]

@@amandastevenson4948 yeah, at air races and warbird meets 🙂

[@amandastevenson4948]

I was thinking about the soccer war but yea

[@jagtone]

@@amandastevenson4948 True!

[@user-uy7dv9wp7z]

P=51はイギリスのエンジンに交換して素晴らしい性能に激変したと聞いています。

[@intelprointelpro4452]

Quel bel avion 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍👍💞💞💞

[@episodebeats2817]

Seeing a P-51 in the air with an A-10 & F-35 was amazing. I highly recommend checking out an airshow.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Range, range, and more range

[@peterbenke1962]

I love my reflector gunship

[@donholmes3267]

When I was very young after WWII THIS MY FAVOURITE MODEL TO MAKE , AND DREAM ONE DAY I WOULD FLY IN ONE , NOT.

[@matthewspry4217]

When US and UK have a baby , P51D🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@akins3182]

Great American plane with a great British engine, the Merlin.

[@retydeere1111]

Ok, a hurricane or two no big deal. If a person could tell the difference between a hurricane and a mustang then wonderful, what’s the big deal. This is about mustangs as we all clicked away to watch. Still a great documentary and well put together.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

The P-51 Mustang was the most effective, efficient and aerodynamic fighter of the war.

[@jeanchristophe1525]

J' adore le P51 magnifique avion avec de grandes capacités. Je serai très riche j' en aurai un pour le plaisir

[@jdlamb4212]

Moi aussi

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Regardez Arsenal VG-36. Well known to the Americans before the Mustang.

[@konradhenrykowicz1859]

The most interesting story here is of a chap that said "let us take engine from spitfire and bolt it to a weird plane that was designed to fit different engine and see what will come out of this. And no one important said GFYS! Knowing how much the brass hates any changes in already working system it seems to be true miracle.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

That chap was Kindelberger at NAA in Mar 1941. He asked for and acquired the documentation for installation of the Merlin XX. Ultimately, it was the 66 that was installed when they upgraded the airframe (especially ventral scoop) to the B model. We can thank the incompetent Allison management for pissing off NAA.

[@doogboy]

WOW!

[@doogboy]

[@tommymagnusson]

Great warplane 🔝

[@davekanak]

I hate to say it but honestly, the P51D Mustang makes all the rest look and sound like antique flying jalopies.

[@williamrankin8440]

My fil flew a P51 with the 14th Flying Tigers in the China theater. He arrived late in the war and spent his service bombing bridges and troop trains. He told me he had no problem shooting and bombing the trains but would purposely drop his bombs off target on the bridges as he knew there would be civilians close by. After his service he never piloted an airplane again. He became a civil engineer and spent a part of his career rebuilding some of the infrastructure in Asia after the war. One time while we were sitting in my driveway drinking beer and enjoying the warm spring day an WWII aircraft from a nearby airfield flew over and he immediately stopped, looked up and said “it’s ok.” It’s one of ours”. This was around 1997.😂

[@timcahill8194]

The corsair is a great plane also

[@kentleytaggart5816]

VERY GOOD VIDIO

[@lesterweinheimer665]

These veterans speak about heroic acts like they were nothing! God bless you all

[@bobsakamanos4469]

They were just doing their job, and most later said the same thing about the german pilots.

[@trevermcdonald2402]

I love the sound of the Rolls Royce engine

[@donholmes3267]

I grew up in a Naval Based Town . I got a lot of exposure to Naval activities!

[@davidelliott5843]

Mustang existed because the British needed to replace the Hawker Hurricane. The first conversion to Merlin power was done by Rolls Royce Hucknall in just six weeks. The production aircraft took a lot longer to arrive. The sleek looking P-51D was just 4mph faster then the blunt nosed P-51B. Packard were license-building Merlin 61 because Rolls-Royce needed help to meet demand for the engine. Please note early Merlin’s had single stage superchargers.

[@chipsawdust5816]

Some Allisons had a single stage as well, still not a great airplane engine for high altitude. I have seen one many times at an aircraft mechanic school I visit occasionally. Big heavy engine.

[@CncrndCtzn]

The Mustang was a much better plane than the Hurricane, and filled a different role. But even if that wasn’t the case, the Mustang existed because the United States needed to replace the Hurricane.

[@peebeedee6757]

@davidelliott5843 The British weren't thinking of replacing the Hurricane, we just need more aircraft. Hence the order to North American and the birth of the Mustang. The Hurricane, first flown in 1937 was, of course, being overtaken by developments but remained in production til 1944.

[@peebeedee6757]

​@@CncrndCtzn What ! Think you need to read up a bit.

[@allangibson8494]

The Packard Merlin’s were being built for Canadian Lancaster’s (Packard was building them because Henry Ford specifically refused to build anything that would help the British war effort against his friends in Germany).

[@larrysouthern5098]

At 00:51 I remember as a boy I remember going to the library and I found a book about WW2 and there was a picture of a formation of P51 mustangs just like this clip at 00:51 is that coincidence or what??? I don't know what know what happened to that book.. But I remember that photo.. And I still love the P51 MUSTANG.. The king of the fighters.. The top three..are P51 Mustang..Grandad F86 Sabre..Son F16 Falcon..Grandson.. The family of legends 🇺🇸

[@markvickers3488]

I'm pushing 65. My Deutsch Ami father joined the RCAF 5 months before Pearl Harbor. He barely survived training in Canada. 5 days, no food. After he got into combat in his Spitfire Mark 9 , 4/25/44, he crashed laneded in S.W. Britain. Spinal fractures. 5 months in a torso cast. Then the real killing started. Ruhr Pocket, March 1945 . I take no happiness from my Deutsch cousins deaths.

[@CX-EURO400]

戦争中に館山に住んでた親父が撃墜されたP-51を見に行った時、折り畳まれたゴムボートと釣り道具が積んであったのを見てビックリした、と話してました。

[@wallstreet1863]

Would love to fly one❤

[@patriota_rj]

Red Tails Very heros

[@user-vp5hu8om9b]

Один из моих любимых самолетов Второй Мировой войны, после Р-47D Thunderbolt.

[@danagarcia4594]

Meeting the German pilot he shot down in 1996 is crazy. Also landing during a tank battle… these guys were just built different I swear. Respect!

[@rogernorris9543]

Salute to the 332nd. OUTSTANDING!!

[@rbjolly]

Some of what was presented about the Tuskegee Airmen (TA) is incorrect. They did lose bombers and they didn't start flying long range bomber escort until several month after the Allies had gained air supremacy. The fighter groups (FGs) based in England, like the 354th, which was the first to fly the P-51 B in combat, were the ones that flew through the maelstrom early in the war and were responsible for grinding down the Luftwaffe. The 332nd didn't start flying escort missions until after D-Day, so no valid comparison can be made. Plus, the FGs flying out of England had as a mandate to "engage, pursue, and destroy enemy aircraft at all costs." After this point and until they had air supremacy, bomber protection was subordinate. But the TA did achieve the mission of proving that they were on par with white pilots. For more information about the TA, see the USAF publication "NINE MYTHS ABOUT THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN," by Dr. Daniel L. Haulman of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

[@rogernorris9543]

@@rbjolly They still stood up and did a good job, and for that I Salute them.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@rbjolly well said. Hollywood likes to rewrite history.

[@stopspammandm]

My father flew P-51 and I saw some video of his squadron. Would like to think he could have been the pilot of one of them.

[@Absaalookemensch]

North American was founded by Anthony Fokker, who make the WWI German Fokker fighters, including the red baron Fokker Dr. I, the triplane. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker

[@sabrekai8706]

I have read various accounts that stated you had to be careful when applying power during the take off. She had a wicked torque roll if she got away from you.

[@chipsawdust5816]

With 1500-1650 HP engines and torque to turn that four bladed prop, you bet. Lots of right rudder to counteract the torque on takeoff. The P-38 had counter-rotating engines so if you lost either one on takeoff there would be no "critical engine" in other words one that required more correction and quicker action. Regardless of that, if you lost an engine on takeoff in a P-38 your chances of survival were slim. Thankfully I don't recall that happening very often!

[@sabrekai8706]

@@chipsawdust5816 I remember reading an aviation magazine in the 70s, with several sequential photos of a guy messing up the take off. Torque roll, ended up upside down just off the runway. He survived, the plane was scrap.

[@welshparamedic]

Rolls Royce did the first conversion of trialling a merlin into a mustang! the birth of a brilliant fighter having the best of British and USA engineering blended together! In it's self an accomplishment as the US does not normally like having foreign military hardware even from its allies. Their was a lot of vocal arguments against the purchasing of the English Electric Canberra from the UK in the 50's but this too prevailed resulting in the eventual Martin B-57 'Canberra' 'Pride cometh before the Fall!'

[@4literv6]

And which American automaker simplified the Merlin for reliable high volume production and then knocked out thousands of them eh? That would be Packard of course! British engine my ass lol. We simplified the design, we mass produced it, we adopted it to suit our needs and made it reliable. Then we Americans slapped it into a badass airframe with good firepower built in less than 120 days and proceeded to rule the skies. 👍🏻😎

[@rafaelsiviero2036]

Depois de 1 minuto e meio de vídeo, quando apareceu um piloto entrando em um Hurricane, caiu por terra qualquer credibilidade que possa ter esse documentário

[@humbleken2266]

🙏🦅🌻🌎🇺🇸🙂, Yes and Yes. Amen.

[@vernonsaayman9741]

Very few people know that the movie ,,battle hymn,, 1957 with rock hudson has a lot of great mustang footage,

[@raymondtorres-gy8uj]

Have you ever wondered why?? First: The movie was made in 1957 Second:. Who the hell is "Rock Hudson" and the name of the movie "Battle hymn" is/was not a blockbuster i bet....Now tell me why very few people know about this movie that most of the population does'nt have a clue about this movie...🤫🤦😂😂

[@josephjohnson9375]

@@raymondtorres-gy8uj

[@AB-kg6rk]

Sounds great, ill look for it, thanks😎

[@AB-kg6rk]

@@raymondtorres-gy8uj Why the bitching. Either watch the movie or ignore it. No need to act like a small penised, petty, Brit.

[@markmanleyH2Oactivity]

When you're so used to hearing a lot about the 'Spitfire it's nice to *Learn* about the 'P - 51 capabilities. 🥾🥾🪂

[@honeybeebadger]

‘Airplane of the war’

[@falconeaterf15]

Fun fact…… the USAF could buy 3 Mustangs for the price of just two P47s.

[@WizzRacing]

I love how these guys say it had no bad habits.. You would be surprised. Take off with that center fuel tank full. You could flip the plane on takeoff...If you forgot about the CG change... It didn't give you much warning on stalling. Only the gun ports would start whistling when you got on the edge..Then it would tip stall into the ground..Had fuel system icing problems..

[@goodcopbadcop9872]

Probably because it's all made up by the AI and the AI never flew in combat. Fake video.

[@douglasmiller8607]

Any plane had to go through a debelopment period . The P-38 was there when the 51 was still going thru development. The P-38 was first over Berlin.

[@jagtone]

The development of the P-51 was actually much faster than that of the P-38, which began on the drawing board in 1937, with prototypes in 1939, but didn't really iron out its many safety & performance issues until the J variant in late 1943.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Too bad the P-38 was never effective as a high altitude fighter.

[@shakekawa_salmon]

マスタングかっこいいよなぁ〜

[@davy1458]

Such a handsome old bird.

[@HennyvilleX]

01:33 and 01:59 shows a Hawker Hurricane not a Mustang. C'mon guys.

[@jacopofbargellini4005]

i just noticed the same. its a shame

[@arturoeugster7228]

​@@jacopofbargellini4005 Sloppiness turns me off

[@paulgregg722]

Humble Pie for you! No Hurricanes but P51-B high backed mustangs!

[@jacopofbargellini4005]

@@paulgregg722 ahahahahahaha

[@peterlisyak5396]

Every body needs to remember it wasn’t a Packard engine it was a RollsRoyce Merlin engine built under license by Packard

[@davidmain7794]

Real men!!!!!!!!

[@jdlamb4212]

They probably never tried anal tho