[Lee Stewart]

Like so many vehicles operated during the Second World War, the P-51 Mustang's design was continuously refined and improved. upon. More than 20 variants were developed over the aircraft's service, with the most famous being the P-51D, which featured a revamp of its wings and a new bubble canopy, allowing pilots to see behind them. Its armament was also updated to include two M2 Browning machine guns, giving it increased firepower.

The P-51H was the newest model by the end of the Second World War, but it arrived on the scene too late to see service during the conflict. Along with featuring a new Merlin engine that gave it increased power, it was several thousand pounds lighter than those that had previously been introduced, meaning its maneuverability was further increased.

While the P-51H was intended to see combat during the planned Allied invasion of Japan - better known as Operation Downfall - alongside the Lockheed P-47N Thunderbolt, it was ultimately relegated to reserve units. What's more, it saw little service during the Korean War, as the US Air Force had many more P-51Ds at its disposal.