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North American P-51 Mustang

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As the North American P-51 Mustang appeared in late 1943 in large numbers over Europe this meant practically the end of the air superiority of the German Luftwaffe over Germany. This powerful long-range, single- seat fighter was capable to escort heavy allied bombers deep into the German Reich and back. The hitherto used P-47 Thunderbolts and P-38 Lightnings had neither the necessary reach nor were they able to propose the aeroplane types used by the German Luftwaffe at that time. The P-51 Mustang who was actually developed to a request of the English Royal Air Force should quickly become the long-distance fighter urgently needed to gain air supremacy over Europe. The Mustang was brought to the front in large numbers and the pilots of the USAAF could destroy due to their numerical superiority and the better training over 5.000 enemy aircrafts.
Die P-51 Mustang was probably the ultimate fighter plane of World War 2 and the superior fighter at his time. This should not change until the end of 1944 when the outstanding types of aircraft Focke Wulf TA-152, probably the best fighter with piston engine, as well as the world famous Me 262, the first operational jet fighter of the world, were available to the German Luftwaffe. These planes came too late and in too few numbers to be able to still stop the huge formations of the Allies.

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