165 - P-51 Mustang
The WW2 Podcast
Angus Wallace
4.6 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2022
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In 1940 the British Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation (NAA) to build under license Curtis P-40 fighters. NAA suggested that rather than produce an old design they proposed a new design, this would become the P-51 Mustang.
When fitted with the Roll-Royce Merlin engine, the Mustang would be one of the most important fighters of the war. With its ability to carry tremendous amounts of fuel, the plane was able to fly deep into Europe providing fighter escort for the bomber groups. Over the skies of Germany, it proved more than a match for what the Luftwaffe could throw at them.
Joining me is Chris Bucholtz.
Chris is an aviation historian with a prolific body of work. He previously joined me in episode 110 to discuss the P-47 Thunderbolt. His new book published by Osprey is P-51B/C Mustang: Northwest Europe 1943-44.
Patreon:
patreon.com/ww2podcast
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This country is at war with Germany. |
| 0:04.0 | We shall go under the end. |
| 0:08.0 | I remember the sheets of plane that came up and almost blinded us for my guns. |
| 0:21.0 | Hello and welcome to the episode of World War II podcast. |
| 0:25.0 | The P-51 Mustang first saw service with the British. |
| 0:28.0 | From late 1943, it was flying long-range fighter cover on bomberheads deep into Europe. |
| 0:34.0 | The Mustang was more than a match for the German 1 or 9s than the FW 190s. |
| 0:39.0 | The Mustang revolutionized the air war over Germany. |
| 0:44.0 | Joining me is Chris Buchholz. |
| 0:47.0 | Chris is an aviation historian with a prolific body of work. |
| 0:51.0 | He previously joined me in episode 110 to discuss the P-47 Thunderbolt. |
| 0:56.0 | His new book, published by Osprey, is P-51 Bass Drug C. |
| 1:01.0 | Mustang, Northwest Europe 1943-44. |
| 1:05.0 | Chris, thanks for joining me. |
| 1:07.0 | Am I right in saying the Mustang development came out of a British contract from the British Purchasing Commission? |
| 1:14.0 | Who are they? What's the background to that? |
| 1:17.0 | That commission was established by those people. |
| 1:19.0 | They were sort of handpicked to have business ties. |
| 1:21.0 | Who are British citizens who had British ties in the United States. |
| 1:24.0 | And so they are basically the British government commission these guys to help facilitate the production of things for the British military during the war. |
| 1:34.0 | The classic story is battle of Britain is going on. |
| 1:36.0 | The RAF's need of fighters. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Angus Wallace, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Angus Wallace and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.