The P-51 Mustang as an Escort Fighter

<p>The P-51 Mustang was an outstanding fighter in World War II. Popular history gives the majority of the credit to the addition of drop tanks to this aircraft which extended its range and allowed it to be used as an escort fighter for bomber operations in World War II. This paper highlights the unique design characteristics of the P-51 Mustang with its Packard Merlin engine. The incorporation of innovative laminar flow wings and aerodynamic smoothing along with a delivery oriented production system made the aircraft an outstanding escort fighter-the addition of the drop tanks just made it better. Because of this addition to the Allied fighting force the doctrine of daylight strategic high altitude precision bombing by United States bombers was successful in World War II and the United States Air Force was born.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>