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P-51 DevelopmentThe P-51 was designed by The North American Aviation Company in 1940,
from specifications provided by the British Government. The first P-51
models ( the A-36, the P-51 and the P-51A ) were powered by Allison,
non- A combined total of over 15,000 Mustangs were produced, including all models. The Mustang was produced by North American in Inglewood, California and in Dallas, Texas. The Mustang's top speed is 505 MPH, with a top cruising speed of 437 MPH ( at 25,000 feet ). The average fuel consumption is 60 gallons per hour at economy cruise. During WWII combat conditions, pilots confirmed speeds of 600 MPH in a vertical dive in pursuit of enemy aircraft and both the pilot and aircraft survived to fly and fight in future air battles. The P-51 orginally cost the U.S. Government $51,000. As late as 1959, they were sold at surplus auction for an average sales price of $1,490. Today these aircraft are valued in excess of $1,000,000, depending on aircraft condition. "Gunfighter"
44-73264 was built in the North American plant in Inglewood, California and accepted into the USAAF in March, 1945. That same month, it was trans-shipped to England, where it was assigned to the famous 'Mighty Eighth' Air Force. In July of the same year, after the War had ended in Europe, it was returned to the U.S. and asigned to Olmstead Field in Pennsylvania, where it remained until 1947. For the next nine years the aircraft served with four different state Air National Guard units in Wyoming, New Mexico, Illinois and finally the Kentucky ANG, where in 1956, it was declared surplus and sold on the civilian market. 44-73264 is restored in the colors of the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th
Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force, USAAF, using the nose
art "Gunfighter", providing the name by which the aircraft
is widely known. The 55th Fighter Group was the first American Air Force
unit to become operational in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning prior to transitioning
into the P-51. All armor plate and armament have been removed from Gunfighter and the average gross weight is approximately 7,500 lbs. The current maximum fuel capacity is 184 gallons. The engine is a twelve cylinder in a 'V' configuration, rated at 1,490 HP and has a displacement of 1650 cubic inches. It is equipped with a supercharger which allows for a service ceiling of 41,000 feet. The pilot duties for Gunfighter are split by The hourly estimated cost to "Keep it Flyin' " approaches $1,600 per hour, which includes the cost of engine overhaul, parts, maintenance, insurance, hangar, fuel, oil, paint and all the other items necessary to safely operate the aircraft.
Gunfighter AssignmentsMarch, 1945 - Accepted By the USAAF |
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supercharged
engines. The subsequent models; the B,C,D,H and K, were powered by Rolls-Royce
Merlin engines, or variants of that engine. The Packard Motor Car Company
was licensed to build the Merlin engine in the United States to provide
sufficient numbers of the engine as production of the P-51 increased.
This
particular aircraft is a "D" model, serial number 44-73264,
which was the most produced P-51 model during the War with over 8,000
built. Today, about 140 Mustangs exist, world-wide, in Museums, flying
or under restoration. No country in the world any longer flies the Mustang
as part of their inventory. The Dominican Republic was the last country
to do so and sold these aircraft on the civilian market in 1985.
On
March 3, 1944, the 55th Fighter Group was the first USAAF combat unit
to fly over Berlin and was one of the units to provide top cover over
the Invasion Beaches at Normandy on "D-Day", June 6th, 1944.
Captain Larry Lumpkin, of Elkhorn, NE and Doug Rozendaal of Clear Lake, IA.