North American P-51D Mustang 'Bad Angel'
Pima Air and Space Museum
The North American P-51 Mustang is widely considered to be the best American fighter of World War II. However, if it were not for the British Royal Air Force, the Mustang would never have been built. In January, 1940, the British approached several American aircraft companies with their requirements for a new fighter and required that a prototype be ready within 120 days.
North American Aviation responded with the Mustang. The early versions of the aircraft proved to be underpowered at high altitudes, but when it was redesigned to use the excellent Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the Mustang soon proved to be a superb fighter at all altitudes.
The P-51D features a cut down rear fuselage and a bubble canopy to improve rearward visibility, and six .50 caliber machine guns in the wings in place of the four guns present in most earlier versions.
The Mustang remained in military service in the United States Air Force until 1957, and the last combat Mustang was retired by the Dominican Air Force in 1984. Mustangs remain popular in civilian aviation with nearly 100 flying in private hands and fetching prices of over two million US dollars.
This P-51 has been constructed from a combination of original parts of various Mustangs and newly manufactured parts made by the Pima Air & Space Museum’s aircraft restoration staff and volunteers. Approximately 60% of the aircraft is original North American Aviation built parts. The paint scheme represents the aircraft flown by Louis E. Curdes with the 3rd Air Commando Group in the Philippines in 1945.
Technical Specifications
Wingspan: 37 ft
Length: 32 ft 3 in
Height: 12 ft 2 in
Weight: 16,000 lbs (loaded)
Maximum speed: 437 mph
Service Ceiling: 41,900 ft
Range: 950 miles (without drop tanks)
Engine: Packard V1650-7 Merlin, 1,490 hp
Crew: 1
Pilot Lt. Louis E. Curdes
Louis Curdes was born November 2, 1919 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He joined the Army in March 1942 and graduated from pilot training at Luke Field, Arizona on December 3rd, 1942. Curdes was assigned to the 82nd Fighter Group, 95th Fighter Squadron, flying P-38 Lightnings over the Mediterranean and southern Europe. He arrived at the unit on April 17, 1943 and shot down three Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters on April 29th. He destroyed two more Bf109s on May 19th to become an ace in only a little over a month of combat. Over the next three months he shot down an Italian Mc. 202 fighter and two more Messerschmitts before he was himself shot down by a German fighter on August 27, 1943 over Salerno, Italy.
Curdes was captured and interned in a POW camp near Rome. Only a few days later, Italy surrendered and he and several other American pilots escaped from the camp before the Germans could take over. He made his way out of German occupied Italy, arriving back in Allied controlled territory on May 27, 1944. After a brief leave Curdes volunteered for another combat tour. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Commando Group, 4th Fighter Squadron in the Philippines, flying the P-51 Mustang. Curdes arrived in the Pacific Theater on November 19, 1944. On February 7, 1945, he shot down a Mitsubishi Ki46 "Dinah" reconnaissance plane near Formosa, making him one of only three Americans to have kills against Germany, Italy, and Japan.
While attacking the Japanese held island of Batan, between the Philippines and Formosa, one of Curdes' wingmen was shot down. Curdes stayed in the area to guide a rescue plane and protect the downed pilot. While they were circling, Curdes noticed an aircraft approaching to land at the Japanese base. Upon investigating he saw that it was a Douglas C-47 and that it carried American markings. After several attempts to direct the Dakota away from the island Curdes decided that he had no choice but to take drastic measures. Carefully lining up behind the transport, he shot out first one and then the other engine. The C-47 ditched in the ocean only about 50 yards from the pilot Curdes had been protecting. As darkness descended, Curdes and his wingman were forced to return to base. The next morning, he returned and flew cover while a PBY picked up the downed Mustang pilot and the twelve passengers and crew from the wayward C-47, including two female nurses. For his actions, Curdes was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, making him, perhaps, the only pilot to receive a medal for shooting down a friendly aircraft.
North American P-51D Mustang 'Bad Angel'
Pima Air and Space Museum
The North American P-51 Mustang is widely considered to be the best American fighter of World War II. However, if it were not for the British Royal Air Force, the Mustang would never have been built. In January, 1940, the British approached several American aircraft companies with their requirements for a new fighter and required that a prototype be ready within 120 days.
North American Aviation responded with the Mustang. The early versions of the aircraft proved to be underpowered at high altitudes, but when it was redesigned to use the excellent Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the Mustang soon proved to be a superb fighter at all altitudes.
The P-51D features a cut down rear fuselage and a bubble canopy to improve rearward visibility, and six .50 caliber machine guns in the wings in place of the four guns present in most earlier versions.
The Mustang remained in military service in the United States Air Force until 1957, and the last combat Mustang was retired by the Dominican Air Force in 1984. Mustangs remain popular in civilian aviation with nearly 100 flying in private hands and fetching prices of over two million US dollars.
This P-51 has been constructed from a combination of original parts of various Mustangs and newly manufactured parts made by the Pima Air & Space Museum’s aircraft restoration staff and volunteers. Approximately 60% of the aircraft is original North American Aviation built parts. The paint scheme represents the aircraft flown by Louis E. Curdes with the 3rd Air Commando Group in the Philippines in 1945.
Technical Specifications
Wingspan: 37 ft
Length: 32 ft 3 in
Height: 12 ft 2 in
Weight: 16,000 lbs (loaded)
Maximum speed: 437 mph
Service Ceiling: 41,900 ft
Range: 950 miles (without drop tanks)
Engine: Packard V1650-7 Merlin, 1,490 hp
Crew: 1
Pilot Lt. Louis E. Curdes
Louis Curdes was born November 2, 1919 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He joined the Army in March 1942 and graduated from pilot training at Luke Field, Arizona on December 3rd, 1942. Curdes was assigned to the 82nd Fighter Group, 95th Fighter Squadron, flying P-38 Lightnings over the Mediterranean and southern Europe. He arrived at the unit on April 17, 1943 and shot down three Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters on April 29th. He destroyed two more Bf109s on May 19th to become an ace in only a little over a month of combat. Over the next three months he shot down an Italian Mc. 202 fighter and two more Messerschmitts before he was himself shot down by a German fighter on August 27, 1943 over Salerno, Italy.
Curdes was captured and interned in a POW camp near Rome. Only a few days later, Italy surrendered and he and several other American pilots escaped from the camp before the Germans could take over. He made his way out of German occupied Italy, arriving back in Allied controlled territory on May 27, 1944. After a brief leave Curdes volunteered for another combat tour. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Commando Group, 4th Fighter Squadron in the Philippines, flying the P-51 Mustang. Curdes arrived in the Pacific Theater on November 19, 1944. On February 7, 1945, he shot down a Mitsubishi Ki46 "Dinah" reconnaissance plane near Formosa, making him one of only three Americans to have kills against Germany, Italy, and Japan.
While attacking the Japanese held island of Batan, between the Philippines and Formosa, one of Curdes' wingmen was shot down. Curdes stayed in the area to guide a rescue plane and protect the downed pilot. While they were circling, Curdes noticed an aircraft approaching to land at the Japanese base. Upon investigating he saw that it was a Douglas C-47 and that it carried American markings. After several attempts to direct the Dakota away from the island Curdes decided that he had no choice but to take drastic measures. Carefully lining up behind the transport, he shot out first one and then the other engine. The C-47 ditched in the ocean only about 50 yards from the pilot Curdes had been protecting. As darkness descended, Curdes and his wingman were forced to return to base. The next morning, he returned and flew cover while a PBY picked up the downed Mustang pilot and the twelve passengers and crew from the wayward C-47, including two female nurses. For his actions, Curdes was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, making him, perhaps, the only pilot to receive a medal for shooting down a friendly aircraft.