Was the P51 a good fighter?

The P-51 dominated air combat in Europe, destroying nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft. It was also a very capable fighter-bomber and could carry 1,000 pounds of bombs and rockets.

Which is better P-51 or Spitfire Mustang?

In most cases, the Spitfire had better performance as an all-purpose fighter. However, the P51D was generally more specialized than the Spitfire. In it’s main role, the Mustang proved itself as a superb escort fighter in Allied bombing raids over Germany.

Why was the P-51 Mustang so good?

The long-range P-51 Mustang fighter was invaluable to the Allied victory, enabling resumption of strategic bombing after heavy losses suffered by unescorted bombers in 1943. Developed for export to Britain, models modified by the British to use Rolls-Royce Merlin engines became America’s most capable wartime fighters.

What fighter did the US use in WW2?

Among popular fighter planes used by the Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy included the F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, P-38 Lightning and P-61 Black Widow. Other US AAF fighters included the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang, highlighted below.

Who made P51 Mustang?

North American Aviation
North American P-51 Mustang/Manufacturers

P-51, also called Mustang, a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft originally designed and produced by North American Aviation for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and later adopted by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF).

Was the P51 fuel injected?

Fuel-injection allowed many a Messerschmitt Bf 109 pilot to escape a Spitfire on its tail and return to fight another day. The -3 engine supercharger cut-in at 19,000 feet, and the -7, between 14,500 and 19,000 feet….

Is Spitfire better than BF 109?

The Bf 109 was arguably the best fighter in the world in 1940. It was faster than the Spitfire at high altitude, could dive more rapidly and carried a more effective armament of two cannon and two machine guns. The Luftwaffe started the Battle with about 1,100 Bf 109s and 906 pilots available.

How many P51 Mustangs are left?

There are only around 175 Mustangs still flying, with roughly 150 of those in the U.S. About 100 other Mustangs are on display in museums. More than 15,000 rolled off North American Aviation assembly lines in California and Texas during World War II.

What did the US Air Force do in WW2?

By the end of World War II, the Army Air Forces had become virtually an independent service….