North American P-51B/C Mustang
North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1942 · fighter
The early production Merlin-engined Mustang with the razorback high-spine fuselage and four-gun armament, operationally superior to all earlier marks but pilot visibility inferior to the bubble-canopy D.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Razorback fuselage with a high spine and multi-framed greenhouse canopy — pilot's rearward view is severely restricted, unlike the D's bubble |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Razorback fuselage with a high spine and multi-framed greenhouse canopy — pilot's rearward view is severely restricted, unlike the D's bubble
- Chin air scoop for the ventral radiator is present but the fuselage above the scoop rises in a continuous curve to the high spine
- Four rather than six .50 cal guns (two per wing instead of three) — fewer gun muzzles in the leading edge
Against the D: the tall spine and greenhouse canopy are conclusive — no bubble. Against the RAF Mustang Mk III (same airframe): identical; USAAF markings and serial placement are the only differences.
Specifications
- The North American P-51B/C Mustang has a length of 9.83 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 708 km/h (440 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The B (built at Inglewood) and C (Dallas) entered USAAF service in late 1943 and began escorting Eighth Air Force bombers to Berlin in early 1944, transforming the strategic bombing campaign. Many were field-modified with cut-down rear fuselage and Malcolm hood.
Variants
B and C are identical in structure and differ only in factory of origin. Field-modified aircraft with Malcolm hood sliding canopy are sometimes called 'B/Malcolm'. A few were converted to two-seat trainers.
Where you'll see it
Fewer airworthy B/Cs exist than Ds; several fly in the USA and UK. The high spine is the definitive recognition point at any airshow.
Related aircraft
- North American A-36 Apache
- North American A-36 Mustang
- North American XB-28
- North American B-25J Mitchell
- Aichi E16A Zuiun
- Bell P-59 Airacomet
- Bell P-63 Kingcobra
- Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1
Compared head-to-head
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