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North American P-51D / P-51K Mustang
← P-51 Mustang North American Aviation · Variant 3 of 5

North American P-51D / P-51K Mustang

The definitive Mustang — bubble canopy, six guns and the most-produced version by far · First flight 1943 · In service 1944

The P-51D was developed from the tenth production P-51B, 43-12102, rebuilt with a cut-down rear fuselage and a one-piece 'bubble' canopy that gave the pilot all-round vision. The wing was revised to take six 12.7 mm guns in an upright mounting that cured the jamming of the B/C, and later blocks added a dorsal fin fillet (from the D-10), the K-14 computing gunsight (D-20) and underwing rocket racks (D-25). With the Packard V-1650-7 it reached about 710 km/h. The P-51K, built only at Dallas, differed mainly in its Aeroproducts propeller.

P-51Ds reached the 8th Air Force in mid-1944 and became the standard long-range escort over Germany; Mustang groups in Europe claimed about 4,950 enemy aircraft. In the Pacific they escorted B-29s from Iwo Jima to Japan. After the war the type, redesignated F-51D in 1948, served in the Korean War as a ground-attack aircraft with the USAF, the South African Air Force's No. 2 Squadron, the RAAF's No. 77 Squadron and the Republic of Korea Air Force, largely replaced by jets by 1953.

It was the most-produced Mustang and was exported or licence-built widely: Sweden flew 161 as the J 26, and Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Australia built 200. The Dominican Air Force retired the last military Mustangs in 1984. Today most of the world's airworthy Mustangs are P-51Ds, and the type regularly flies with the USAF Heritage Flight alongside modern jets.

Gallery
P-51D G-CMDK of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Flight, painted as 44-13779 'WD-C', at an air show in England, July 2022
P-51D G-CMDK of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Flight, painted as 44-13779 'WD-C', at an air show in England, July 2022simon butler · CC BY 2.0
USAF Heritage Flight: a P-51D in formation with an F-22 Raptor at NAS Oceana, Virginia, September 2008
USAF Heritage Flight: a P-51D in formation with an F-22 Raptor at NAS Oceana, Virginia, September 2008U.S. Navy · Public domain
F-51D Mustangs of No. 2 Squadron, South African Air Force, in Korea, 1 May 1951
F-51D Mustangs of No. 2 Squadron, South African Air Force, in Korea, 1 May 1951USAF · Public domain
F-51D-25-NT 44-84602 of the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group, about to take off from Chinhae, Korea, 1951–52
F-51D-25-NT 44-84602 of the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group, about to take off from Chinhae, Korea, 1951–52USAF · Public domain
Same family

Other P-51 Mustang variants

North American Mustang I / P-51A / A-36 (Allison-engined)
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North American Aviation

North American Mustang I / P-51A / A-36 (Allison-engined)

United StatesThe original low-level Mustang — built for the RAF, powered by the Allison V-1710
North American P-51B / P-51C Mustang (Mustang III)
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North American Aviation

North American P-51B / P-51C Mustang (Mustang III)

United StatesThe Merlin Mustang — the high-altitude escort fighter that could reach Berlin and back
North American P-51H Mustang
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North American Aviation

North American P-51H Mustang

United StatesThe lightweight, fastest production Mustang — redesigned for the invasion of Japan
North American F-82 Twin Mustang
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North American Aviation

North American F-82 Twin Mustang

United StatesTwo Mustang fuselages on one wing — a very-long-range escort that became a radar night fighter