The Mustang even began the Korean War as the United Nations' main fighter, but was relegated to ground attack role only after the introduction of jet fighters. Nevertheless, it remained in service with some air forces as late as the 1980s. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made, and highly durable aircraft. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard built V-1650, a two-stage, two-speed, supercharged version of the legendary Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Known for its speed, the Mustang was also a formidable fighter, packing Six 50 cal. Brownings in the wings.
After World War II and the Korean War, many Mustangs were converted for civilian use, especially for air racing. Today the P-51 remains the fastest piston powered aircraft in the world, and was in fact voted "the greatest fighter of the Twentieth Century". The Mustang's reputation was so renowned, that in the mid-1960s, Ford Motor Company named a new, youth-oriented coupe automobile after the iconic fighter plane.
The paint scheme for this Mustang is as legendary as the plane itself. It duplicates the "Sizzlin' Liz" flown by Ace, Major Gerald E Montgomery, who was awarded the Air Medial with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, along with a Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Clusters before losing his life when his plane was shot down during the Korean War.
This aircraft differs only slightly from Major Montgomery's exact wartime paint scheme. There is a touching inscription made by owner, David Marco, on the wheel cover, for the right main gear, which serves as a memorial to his father, Seymour, and brother, Michael Marco, by listing them as co-pilots.
"The P-51 is not only one of the greatest engineering innovations in our nation's history, but was certainly a major reason that we reside in a free America today." - David Marco
