P-51 Mustang: The Plane That Saved the Combined Bomber Offensive

Abstract

The Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) was almost cancelled in October 1943 for lack of an adequate long-range escort fighter. The P-51 Mustang combined the perfect mix of technological innovation, production, performance, and timing to save the CBO. From the inauspicious start as a reconnaissance aircraft to the mating of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the Mustang was at the forefront of technological innovation. Its arrival into the European theater of Operations in large numbers in the spring of 1944 provided escort cover from their bases in England all the way to Berlin and back. This escort reduced bomber loses and increased Luftwaffe loses gaining air superiority over Germany. This air superiority allowed the CBO to carry out its mission effectively.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Accession Number
AD1019543

Entities

People

  • Edwin Jr J. Markie

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Altitude
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Fuel Tanks
  • High Altitude
  • Low Altitude
  • New York
  • Production
  • Reconnaissance
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • Universities
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies