P-51D Mustang Aircraft

P-51D Mustang
photo courtesy Max Air 2 Air

In April 1940, British Purchasing Commission gave the North American Aircraft Company 120 days to produce an advanced fighter prototype that met their specifications. The result was the North American P-51 Mustang. With its 1,150 hp Allison engine, laminar-flow wing to reduce drag, ducted coolant radiator under the fuselage, and wide-track landing gear, the Mustang easily achieved outstanding marks from the British. In fact, the Royal Air Force began receiving their order of the Mustang I variant just two months before Pearl Harbor. The fighters were equipped with four .50 caliber and four .303 caliber guns. The Mustang’s design allowed it to carry an ample amount of ammunition, as well as two to four times the amount of fuel of its rivals, making it ideal for long-range missions.

As the war progressed, air-to-air combat began to occur at higher and higher altitudes. Pilots quickly discovered the thin air at higher altitudes greatly reduced the Allison engine’s performance, so the Mustang was relegated to low-level reconnaissance and photographic missions. But in 1942, the United States Army Air Force re-examined the Mustang’s capabilities and placed a larger order for several different variants.

Later that year, North American began to test Merlin engines in the P-51, to improve its performance at higher altitudes. The tests were successful and demand for the P-51B and P-51C (both equipped with Merlin engines) increased dramatically. Almost 4,000 of these versions were produced with four 12.7 mm guns and attachments for two-drop tanks or 1,000 lb bombs. The most highly produced Mustang, the P-51D built in 1944, had a more powerful Merlin engine, six .50-inch guns, an extra dorsal fin, and a sliding canopy. North American produced close to 8,000 ‘D’ variants between its Los Angeles and Dallas factories. The fastest production allied fighter, the P-51-H, was built in 1945, but only 555 were completed before VJ Day.

Several post-war versions of the Mustang were manufactured including the F-82 Twin Mustang. This double fuselage airplane with two Allison engines was used as a night fighter, as well as an escort aircraft. Later versions were also made under license by Commonwealth Aircraft in Australia. North American P-51 Mustangs served with air forces all over the world, as late as 1979.

The Fighter Factory’s North American P-51D (serial number 44-72483) was produced in 1945. It was immediately sent to England and assigned to the Eighth Air Force. In September 1947, it was transferred to Sweden. There, the Swedish Air Force assigned it serial number Fv26087. In 1955, the Swiss sold the airplane to Nicaragua. Seven years later, Nicaragua sold several airplanes, including this particular Mustang, to Maco Sales in Illinois. In late 1963, ownership transferred to Texantiques in Grand Prairie, Texas. Eighteen months later, it was bought and moved to Georgia. We believe this Mustang changed ownership again in early 1969 and possibly flew for El Salvador during the Soccer War in July 1969. There is no documented history of this P-51 between 1969 and 1978, but in 1979, a gentleman in Indiana bought the airplane. Then in April 1982, Donald Davidson of New Hampshire purchased it. He had the plane painted with its current “Double Trouble Two” markings with black and yellow checkers on the nose. This paint scheme is reminiscent of the aircraft Deputy Commander ‘Wild’ Bill Bailey of the 353rd Fighter Group, flew from England during World War Two. The primary mission of the 353rd Fighter Group was to provide bomber escorts over Europe.

The aircraft flew in the Reno Air Races from 1983 to 1985. Double Trouble Two then won the “Grand Champion Award” at the 1986 Sun N’ Fun Air Show. The aircraft was sold to Swiss Warbirds in 1990 and ferried across the North Atlantic through Greenland. The new owners continued to fly the Mustang in numerous air shows in Switzerland and throughout Europe. In November 2004, The Fighter Factory purchased Double Trouble Two and shipped it inside a container back to the United States. Today it remains in working condition and can be seen in air shows along the East Coast.

P-51D Mustang
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