Fighting Mustang: Chronicle of the P-51

by William N. Hess

A colorful illustrated history of the most versatile U.S. fighter of World War II with over 100 photographs.

194 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fighting Mustangs: The Chronicle of the P-51", by William N. Hess. 1970. After reading this book one would believe that America possessed the greatest fighter pilots in the world and that the P-51 Mustang was the greatest airplane ever built. "Regardless of the capability of the new German jet, the Mustang pilots looked forward to further encounters with the Me 262." -Highly unlikely. The Me 262 was over 100 mph faster than the Mustang. Hess's book does not mention that many of the Me 262s could only be shot down while low on fuel desperately trying to land while being out numbered by over ten to one. Nor does he mention that the top German aces had literally ten times more victories than that of the top American pilots. He doesn't quote American pilots boasting of strafing helpless German pilots that had bailed out, nor the hundreds of Mustang pilots 'cracking' under high pressure of combat. The fact remains that German pilots were more accomplished, more experienced and fought with an ethical code that eclipsed the Allies. If "Fighting Mustangs" were written 1944, I would have thought it interesting from a propaganda perspective, but by 1970 I more balanced history could have been written.