No. 1: P-51D Mustang
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Power Plant: 1600 hp Packard-built Merlin 61 piston engine
Top Speed: 437 mph
Armament: Six wing-mounted .50-caliber machine guns
Fitted with external drop-tanks the Mustang's range was extended to almost 2,000 miles, making it the only Allied fighter capable of protecting the Allied bombers on long-range, deep-penetration raids.
The Mustang performed its job so well that after its introduction in 1944, casualty rates for bomber crews were reduced by 75 percent. In fact, American P51s destroyed almost 5,000 enemy aircraft in Europe - making it the highest scoring U. S. fighter in the European theater of operations.
Top Fighters Puzzles
VIDEO: Paul "Max" Moga gets to meet Bud Anderson and the two take a look at the Me109.
VIDEO: Bud Anderson describes a dogfight in the P-51
VIDEO: Bud Anderson reminisces about flying the P-51 Mustang.
VIDEO: P-51 Ground Crews
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