Wings of War: The World War II Fighter Plane That Saved the Allies and the Believers Who Made It Fly

Many books have been produced about the exploits of P-51 Mustang pilots during World War II. The authors of this history have focused on three men—North American Aviation chief designer Edgar Schmued, U.S. air attaché Tommy Hitchcock, and U.S. Army Air Force combat leader Don Blakeslee—who promoted the aircraft in its fledgling state. The Mustang was originally a private venture, designed and manufactured for a desperate Royal Air Force in 1940. Despite USAAF disinterest, test pilots were won over by the fighter, and American orders began to flow to the factory. When a revised high-altitude model was delivered, its outstanding range, speed, and combat performance altered the war in Europe. Mustang squadrons protected fleets of Allied bombers as they disrupted Nazi oil and railroad infrastructure throughout the continent. Mustang pilots also excelled at ground attack and reconnaissance. The German armed forces were immobilized by such comprehensive air power.