P-51D Ultra-Micro Mustang

P-51D Mustang

In April 1942 the RAF’s fighter development unit tested the early P51 Mustang and found it wanting at higher altitude, however it had great manoeuvrability and speed and after testing by Rolls Royce it was realised that re-engineering the Mustang with a Merlin 61 would result in a phenomenal improvement in performance. The result was astonishing, the high altitude performance and range with the laminar flow wing and drop tanks would enable the Mustang to excel as a long range bomber escort.

American production of the Mustang with the Rolls Royce engines built under license by Packard the American car manufacturer was started in early 1943 and the birth of the P51 legend began!

It was largely due to the Mustang that daylight raids into German territory during 1944 became possible without the horrendous losses of earlier raids. The P51 also played a pivotal role in wresting air superiority away from the Luftwaffe, a vital condition for the allied invasion of France in June 1944.