North American P-51D Mustang

CANADA’S VICTORY FLIGHT
With Joe Cosmano, Dave Hewitt and Dave Hadfield at the controls, we’re delighted to welcome Victory Flight, featuring the Hawker Hurricane XII, Spitfire IX and P-51D Mustang from the Michael U. Potter Historic Aircraft Collection! An incredible chance to hear the three Rolls-Royce Merlin engines roar in unison.

North American P-51D Mustang: The sleek P-51 Mustang is perhaps the best all-around fighter of World War II. In 1939, British officials approached North American Aviation in desperate need of additional aircraft for the war in Europe. Just 117 days after the order was placed, the first P-51 was rolled out of the factory. Equipped with an American-built copy of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the P-51 quickly became one of the best-known and most feared fighters in the world—able to escort heavy bombers deep into enemy territory.

A total of 15,567 Mustangs of all types were built for the Army and foreign nations. In combat, they destroyed nearly 6,000 enemy aircraft, making the Mustang the deadliest Allied fighter of World War II.

The Potter Collection Mustang is painted in the markings of 442 Squadron towards the end of the Second World War. It is dedicated to two Ottawa bothers — Larry and Rocky Robillard — who both flew with 442 Squadron during the war.