Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
History of the North American P-51 Mustang
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: History of the North American P-51 Mustang
Do you know which plane is claimed to have caused the change in the tides during World War II? The North American P-51 Mustang is widely known across aviation during WWII as the “most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence” by the Truman Senate War Investigation Committee in 1944. The P-51’s unique in its design, construction, and usage. Even its current status, over 70 years later, is fascinating (Boeing, 1995).
The Mustang was to be designed in the United States during the World War II era. When the contract was give the designers had a swift deadline, it was to be ready in no more than 120 days from that days date that the contract was given. Many sources claim that it was done within 102, while others argue that it was 117 days. Needless to say, it was designed magnificently for only having a short amount of time allotted to be designed and the first prototype created. (Writer, 2014) Models A and B power plant was manufactured by a company named Allison, the later models were produced by Rolls Royce-Packard (or Merlin). The producer of the airframe was the company known as North American, i.e. the ‘North American P-51’. The aircraft has many qualities that are very different than that of other planes that were designed around the same time period. For one, it had a three hundred and sixty view canopy, (which was not on the original design), but was added later gave the pilot full visibility, something very uncommon with WWII planes (Boeing, 1995). The idea to use canopies with a full three hundred and six view allowed many pilots to see enemies that would have normally been in a blind spot, thus saving plane, pilots, aircraft and lots of money. In this case canopies saved many civilians lives and helped the Allie...
... middle of paper ...
...2014, from Boeing: http://www.boeing.com/boeing/history/bna/p51.page
Byers, P. (2008). North American P-51 Mustang. Retrieved May 16, 2014, from Catalyst WWII Facts: www.catalystwwiifacts.com
Harden, A. (2013-2014). Aviation History. Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States: Twerk it.
Lowell, T. (n.d.). WWII Veteran Aviator Bill Overstreet and His P-51 Mustang, Berlin Express. Retrieved May 16, 2014, from Warbird News. Time Magazine: http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/wwii-veteran-aviator-bill-overstreet-p-51-mustang-berlin-express.html
Moeing, P. E. (2007). Aircraft Anatomy of World War II. London : Aerospace Publishing Itd.
Writer, S. (2014, Feb 15). The P-51 is arguably the most recognized abd celebrated American fighter of the Second World War. Retrieved May 13, 2014, from Military Factory: http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=77
...ccess of the P-51. From the early days of the A model all the way to the newly designated F-51D, the Mustang fought through swaths of enemies to allow victory for the Allies and the United States. The P-51 is a recognizable machine that embodies the entire war effort of the time and continues to inspire aviation enthusiasts. Today there are many people and companies that are dedicated to preserving and protecting these pieces of our nations history by reconditioning and donating to capable museums and collectors. Through the work of these individuals the P-51 Mustang will forever be a symbol of air power during the world toughest times.
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
Airmen: An Illustrated History: 1939-1949.” Oct. 2012. Vol. 65 Issue 4, pg. 316-319. 4p. Ebsco Host. Tucker, Phillip Thomas, 1953. Web.2014.
The P-51 Mustang is regarded by many sources as the greatest fighter plane ever created. With the technological advancements this plane achieved, to it’s service record, to it’s importance in winning World War Two, the Mustang is truly one of the greats. The Mustang played a key role in long range bomber support and saved countless bomber crew’s lives, and pilots loved to fly it. The P-51 had the most aerial victories of any American fighter in World War Two and it was flown by some of America’s top aces. The P-51 was a beast of a fighter plane
Mitchell arrived in Europe on April 10, 1917, four days after the United States declared war on Germany. While observing the French on the battlefield, “(t)he performance of the French pilots, aircraft, and supporting units deeply impressed on him the tremendous tasks facing American aviation.” The French military had outstripped the American military in terms of aircraft technology, and had developed a more progressive pattern of military aviation in which one group of observation planes would be assigned to sections of ground forces below, while a designated “aerial cavalry” would have command of a “major sector of the front,” allowing them a vast area of operations and a high amount of tactical options. Despite French losses, M...
In 1937, Tucker had the idea of developing a combat vehicle. Two years later, he moved his family back to Michigan to develop new automotive products. Tucker received an opportunity from the Dutch government. The government wanted a combat vehicle that would work in the muddy Dutch land. He began to design an armored combat car, nicknamed “Tucker Tiger.” When the Germans invaded Holland, Tucker had not completed the vehicle. By then, the Dutch lost interest, so he offered it to the U.S. government. The combat car could go up to 115 mph, which was too fast for the government. They had already committed to other combat cars, and refused the car. However, the gun turret on the car took a place in the U.S. Navy and was soon used in many of the ships.
Blair Jr., Clay, (1975). Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, p. 78. p. 1072. Buell, Thomas B. -. (1987)
The. Johnson, David E. Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers: Innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917-1945. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998. Print. The. "
Lawson, Robert L., and Barrett Tillman. U.S. Navy Air Combat: 1939-1946. Osceola, WI: MBI Pub., 2000. Print.
The Mark 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) Torpedo is a heavyweight submarine-launched torpedo; which is the primary weapon of all U.S. Navy submarines. According to FAS Military Analysis Network, The primary goal of this weapon is to be able to “combat fast, deep-diving nuclear powered submarines and high performance surface ships.” The Mark 48 torpedo has gone through many phases of modifications over the past four decades; which have shaped this weapon in to what it is today. Throughout its history the Mark 48 Torpedo has been a revolutionary weapon. Its greatest contribution to modern naval warfare is its ability to give all U.S. Navy submarines a universal weapon to combat the world’s largest naval powers better than any previous torpedo has been able to achieve.
Okerlund, T. (n.d.). Resume of the 123d Aviation Battalion. History of B Company 123d Avn
P-51D Mustangs zooming by and all you can see it the bright red tails of the aircraft. As we all know by now that the Tuskegee Airmen were one of the best if not the best fighter squadron of WWII. I wanted to write some about aviation that interested me and affected the outlook on minorities in aviation. First on wanted to talk about how this whole outfit started also what it took for them to become the red tail as we all know today. Also what other planes the flew during the war and some off the big named pilot that came for the Tuskegee airmen and what they did after the war.
Mortimer, G. (2013). Giving the machine gun wings. Aviation History, 23(6), 50-5. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=2e489df0-5604-49cf-8709-9359f8a1feee%40sessionmgr4003&vid=3&hid=4211
Unikoski, Ari. “The War in the Air - Summary of the Air War”. First World War.com. 2009. http://www.firstworldwar.com/airwar/summary.htm
Top Gun is an American film from 1986. The “Top Gun” is the label given to highly adept fighter pilots who consist of the “best and the brightest” in the American air force. The film portrays the young men who fly these machines as highly competitive, skilled, and highly confident. Maverick, the main character, believes he is the best of the best and often takes daring risks and puts his own life, and the lives of his fellow pilots in danger. Unfortunately, the film leaves the implication that his daring maneuvers costs his best friend, Goose, his life. Overall, the film gives a fine analysis of America’s perception of the United States’ armed forces as it attempts to influence the audience to view America’s military might as unmatched, powerful, and exceptional.