The best all-round fighter that the U.S. have yet produced. Originally powered with the Allison engine, later models have incorporated the Packard-Merlin. The result has been increased speed, though the actual figure has not yet been released.

At first the Mustang I was allocated to the Army Co-Operation Command because of its excellent low-flying qualities. It was used solely as a reconnaissance plane and built up a solid reputation as a hedge-hopper. A wide-tracked undercarriage makes landing safe even on rough airfields.

With the American-built Rolls Royce Merlin (which is better supercharged than the Allison), the Mustang II proved itself as good at height as the Mustang I low down. Its role has therefore widened considerably.

The Mustang III (Also called the Invader) has now made an appearance as a dive bomber. An official report states that “the new Mustang now in production will have the highest altitude (up to 40,000ft) and the highest speed (well over 400mph) of any fighter in existence.

This can only mean the Packard-Merlin engine.

Manufacturers: Hawker North American Aviation Inc. ( Los Angeles, California).

Type: American (now in service with the RAF) single-seat fighter, known in the USA as the North American P-51 or The Apache – the British version being the North American N.A. 73).

Engine: Allison V12 of 1,150hp 1710-F3T (liquid-cooled in-line).

Speed: Maximum, 370mph at 15,000ft; cruising, 310mph at 15,000ft.

Range: 500 miles.

Ceiling: 32,000ft.

Rate of climb: 2,800 feet per minute.

Armament: 8 .5 Browning machine guns, 4 in each wing (or 6 in wings and 2 on sides of engine cowling).

Dimensions: Span: 37ft, length: 32ft 3in, height: 10ft 2in, wing area: 236 sq ft.

Construction: All-metal structure, stressed skin covered. Fully retractable undercarriage.

Distinguishing features: Low-wing monoplane with single in-line engine and retractable undercarriage. Oval fuselage and marked dihedral from the root; long, pointed nose; square-cut wing tips and tail-plane; fin and rudder angular and square-cut; radiator is placed well back along the fuselage.

Summary of recognition features: “Square-cut”

Reproduced from 'The Recognition of Operational Aircraft' by Captain GB Ransford and published in late 1943/early 1944 (price 3 shillings and sixpence).