World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
25 Jul 2010 01:35:39 PM

More than 15,000 P-51's were built between
1941 to 1945. After VJ Day another 6,000
to be built, were cancelled.

Did you know...
One P-51 Mustang left the assembly line every
65 minutes!

2.  Bill says:
26 Sep 2010 11:17:13 AM

By January 1944 most aircraft were leaving
U.S.factories without camouflage paint.
A bare metal P-51 Mustang could fly about
6-10mph faster.

3. Bill says:
26 Sep 2010 06:28:08 PM

SHORT BURSTS CONSERVE THAT AMMO!

The North American P-51 Mustang was armed
with six .50 caliber machineguns, the pilot had 30 seconds firing time.

4.  Bill says:
7 Oct 2010 01:05:19 PM

If the pilot fired all six of his weapons for 30 seconds, he would have burned out
the barrels after 3 seconds!
The Mustang carried 6x50 caliber machine guns
with 1,880 rounds.
Two or three second burst is enough to get a
hit. Almost forgot the Mustang could stay
airborne 8.7 hours.

5.  Bill says:
3 Apr 2011 03:11:59 PM

During World War II the P-51 Mustang was improved, with new models leaving the production line.
North American Aviation developed the P-82
twin-mustang this aircraft was not, as commonly believed two mustang fuselages that were mated to a common wing, but largely a new design using P-51H fuselages with many improved aerodynamic changes.
The long-range fighter had a crew of two this helped cut down on pilot fatigue during long-range missions.Designed as a long-range fighter and night fighter, the P-82 could carry rockets, bombs, extra fuel tanks, a radar pod mounted in the center section of the wing, and was armed w/eight .50 caliber machine guns.
Total number produced was 270 aircraft, introduced in 1946 the P-82 first flew in 1945, but didn't see service during WWII. The F-82 as it was now designated by the USAF served in Korea and was retired in 1953
Maximum speed 461mph/742km/h
Range 2,239miles/3,604km
Service ceiling 38,898ft/11,856meters thats
7.4 miles high.
Powered by 2xAllison liquid-cooled engines of
1,600hp

SURVIVORS:

"Betty-Jo" which flew the longest non-stop
flight ever made by a propeller-driven aircraft, is now on display at the USAF
Museum Dayton, Ohio USA

6.  Bill says:
3 Apr 2011 05:55:08 PM

LAST OF THE BREED:

In the 1960s Cavalier developed the Cavalier
Mustang II designed for Counter-Insurgency
(COIN) operations the aircraft were rebuilt P-51Ds carried eight hard-points for rockets
and bombs.
Fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart 510 Turboprop the design was now called the Cavalier Turbo Mustang. Development continued with Piper
Aircraft, in the 1960s as the PA-48 Enforcer powered by a Lycoming T-55 Turbo-Prop not only were they new built machines, they were almost a new design.

BIGGER AND MEANER:

The PA-48 still had the lines of the mustang
it was bigger and looked meaner able to carry
ordnance on ten hard-points, wing tip tanks,
armor and an ejection seat for the pilot.
The PA-48 didn't have built in armament, but
would use mini-gun pods mounted on the hard points.
The USAF wasn't interested in the project and
foreign orders failed to develop one of the
two prototypes is on display today at the
USAF Museum Dayton, Ohio USA.

FOR A FEW THOUSANDS DOLLARS MORE:

At the end of World War II, surplus Mustangs
could be sold for an unbelievable price of a few thousand dollars!
Others were passed on to friendly nations and continued to serve into the 1960s.

Today about 200 P-51 Mustangs are still able
to fly many were modified in the 1960s and 1970s into unlimited racers, that are still active today others are in private ownership and in collections, and fly at air shows in the USA and Europe.

7.  Bill says:
7 May 2011 03:10:31 PM

CONTINUED FROM COMMENT #1

AMERICAN MASS PRODUCTION:

How could a P-51 Mustang be built every 65 minutes! P-51s were built from five major components the forward fuselage section, that held the engine and machine guns that were already installed, the central fuselage w/cockpit, instruments, rear fuselage w/tail group. Two wing sections and all fuel plumbing and wiring. Testing the aircraft,
test pilots reports delivered to the USAAF.

8.  Bill says:
22 Jun 2011 06:24:15 PM

HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY?

The wartime cost of a P-51 Mustang was
$50,985, thats in 1945 dollars.
Today to build a new P-51 Mustang the price would be $603,685 in todays current value.

9. Ken Farr says:
5 Feb 2013 03:57:35 PM

Hey Bill:

For @ $600,000 for a factory NEW P-51, I think we have a market.
Where do I send my check ?

10. Bill says:
20 Nov 2016 12:36:46 PM

SIGHT THEM GUNS:

How were those 6 x 50 caliber machine guns sighted, on each side of each machine gun, were 5/32nd holes, they were used to bore sight the 50 caliber guns to correctly orient them.
The armorers used a steel rod and by turning this rod, the guns could be aimed up and down and left to right, to make all the rounds (bullets) converge at the same time putting more firepower against a target.

THOSE LITTLE DZUS SCREWS

Making things easier, the Dzus screw was designed by Ukrainian-born William Dzus, while working for the Fairchild Aircraft Co in the 1930s. This new system locked and unlocked aircraft components, with a quarter turn of a screwdriver.
Before this invention, mechanics had to unfasten different pins, latches, buckles used to attach cowlings and fairings.
Dzus fasteners were later used by different countries. Did you know that the Dzus screw is still being manufactured and used in aircraft today...