723K views · 17K reactions | WWII Dogfights: Joe Peterburs' P-51 Mustang Adventures | American Veterans Center | Facebook

A very happy 80th birthday to the North American P-51 Mustang, which first flew on October 26, 1940! The Mustang, of course, played a large role in the Allies' World War II victory and is a widely-celebrated aircraft to this day. Enjoy a minute of pure Merlin engine bliss to mark this special anniversary! | EAA - The Spirit of Aviation

The legendary North American P-51 Mustang played a decisive role in the air war over Europe. Designed in the United States and powered by a British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine built under licence by Packard, it combined long range with exceptional speed and agility. By 1944, more than 4,000 Mustangs operated from over 100 Allied airfields across England, France and Belgium. Their job was to escort heavy bombers deep into German territory, protecting them from Luftwaffe fighters all the way to Berl