North American P51D Mustang

1099278475
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Description

Object description

American single-engine, military fighter aircraft built by North American Aviation in 1945 . Served with Nos 406, 402 and 420 Squadrons Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 1950-1951. Of a type of US military aircraft widely used by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) to provide long-range fighter escort for daylight strategic bombing missions against German industrial and military targets during the Second World War.

Physical description

Single-engine, single seat military fighter aircraft. Fixed-wing monoplane with straight high aspect ratio wings, four bladed propeller, conventional tail, and tail-wheel type landing gear. Fitted with two aluminium drop fuel tanks to wings. Overall in natural metal finish with olive drab 'anti-dazzle' strip in front of cockpit, with US Army Air Forces (USAAF) national insignia (1943 pattern) painted in white and insignia blue on fuselage and port wing; with 8th Air Force high visibility tactical unit markings painted in a black and white chequerboard pattern on engine cowling (78th Fighter Group); with nose art 'Etta Jean II' painted in red and black text, forward of the cockpit on port side; with 'The Texan' (reference to the pilot Huie H Lamb Jr); and two Swastikas beneath the initials 'FLW' and 'BL' (references to Fred L Webber and Bill Lacy), painted in black text on the port cockpit cowling; with 8th Air Force squadron identification code 'MX' (82nd Fighter Squadron) and radio call letter 'V' painted in black on fuselage; with radio call number '411631' painted in black on vertical tail plane, and tail rudder painted red (82nd Fighter Squadron).

History note

This aircraft was delivered to the USAAF in 1945, airframe number 44-73979. It was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force on 6th December 1950, first serving with 416 Sqn RCAF, based at RCAF Station Uplands, Ottawa (at this time it carried the serial 9246). Then transferred to 402 Squadron in Manitoba, then 420 Squadron. On 16th May 1951 it suffered Class B damage and was struck off strength as a result, becoming instructional airframe 612. On 10th May 1955 it was displayed at the College Royal Militaire, then transferred to RCAF Station St Jean in 1960. Transferred to IWM in 1968.

Object Details

Category: Vehicles, aircraft and ships
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (production)
Creator: North American
Production date: 1944
Dimensions: Wing Span: Height 4 m, Length 9.8 m, Weight 10100 lbs, Width 11.9 m
Catalogue number: 2010.225.5

Object associations

Associated subjects

fighter

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