P-51 Development

The P-51 was designed by The North American Aviation Company in 1940, from specifications provided by the British Government. The first P-51 models ( the A-36, the P-51 and the P-51A ) were powered by Allison, non-supercharged engines. The subsequent models; the B,C,D,H and K, were powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, or variants of that engine. The Packard Motor Car Company was licensed to build the Merlin engine in the United States to provide sufficient numbers of the engine as production of the P-51 increased.

A combined total of over 15,000 Mustangs were produced, including all models. The Mustang was produced by North American in Inglewood, California and in Dallas, Texas.

The Mustang's top speed is 505 MPH, with a top cruising speed of 437 MPH ( at 25,000 feet ). The average fuel consumption is 60 gallons per hour at economy cruise. During WWII combat conditions, pilots confirmed speeds of 600 MPH in a vertical dive in pursuit of enemy aircraft and both the pilot and aircraft survived to fly and fight in future air battles.

The P-51 orginally cost the U.S. Government $51,000. As late as 1959, they were sold at surplus auction for an average sales price of $1,490. Today these aircraft are valued in excess of $1,000,000, depending on aircraft condition.

"Gunfighter"

This particular aircraft is a "D" model, serial number 44-73264, which was the most produced P-51 model during the War with over 8,000 built. Today, about 140 Mustangs exist, world-wide, in Museums, flying or under restoration. No country in the world any longer flies the Mustang as part of their inventory. The Dominican Republic was the last country to do so and sold these aircraft on the civilian market in 1985.

44-73264 was built in the North American plant in Inglewood, California and accepted into the USAAF in March, 1945. That same month, it was trans-shipped to England, where it was assigned to the famous 'Mighty Eighth' Air Force. In July of the same year, after the War had ended in Europe, it was returned to the U.S. and asigned to Olmstead Field in Pennsylvania, where it remained until 1947. For the next nine years the aircraft served with four different state Air National Guard units in Wyoming, New Mexico, Illinois and finally the Kentucky ANG, where in 1956, it was declared surplus and sold on the civilian market.

44-73264 is restored in the colors of the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force, USAAF, using the nose art "Gunfighter", providing the name by which the aircraft is widely known. The 55th Fighter Group was the first American Air Force unit to become operational in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning prior to transitioning into the P-51. On March 3, 1944, the 55th Fighter Group was the first USAAF combat unit to fly over Berlin and was one of the units to provide top cover over the Invasion Beaches at Normandy on "D-Day", June 6th, 1944.

All armor plate and armament have been removed from Gunfighter and the average gross weight is approximately 7,500 lbs. The current maximum fuel capacity is 184 gallons. The engine is a twelve cylinder in a 'V' configuration, rated at 1,490 HP and has a displacement of 1650 cubic inches. It is equipped with a supercharger which allows for a service ceiling of 41,000 feet.

The primary pilot of Gunfighter, Reg Urschler, served 32 years on active service with the United States Air Force, logging in excess of 13,000 flying hours. He retired as a Brigadier General and now resides in Bellevue, Nebraska, and is responsible for maintaining Gunfighter in flying condition, aided by a crew of dedicated volunteers. Captain Larry Lumpkin, of Elkhorn, NE, also flys Gunfighter.

The hourly estimated cost to "Keep it Flyin' " approaches $1,600 per hour, which includes the cost of engine overhaul, parts, maintenance, insurance, hangar, fuel, oil, paint and all the other items necessary to safely operate the aircraft.

Gunfighter Assignments

March, 1945 - Accepted By the USAAF
July, 1945 - Returned to the US
September, 1945 - 4108th Base Unit, Newark, N.J.
December, 1946 - 4412 Base Unit, Olmstead Field, PA.
March, 1947 - 187th Fighter Squadron, Wyoming ANG, Cheyenne, WY
January, 1952 - 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing, TAC, Clovis AFB, NM
April, 1953 - 187th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Wyoming ANG, Cheyenne, WY
September, 1953 - 108th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Illinois ANG, O'Hare Field
February, 1955 - 165th Fighter-Bomber/Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Kentucky ANG, Sandiford Field.
October, 1956 - Sacramento AMA with assignment code RS, recommended for reclamation
September, 1957 - Authorized for reclamation and dropped from USAF inventor

The Pilot

General Urschler was born in 1935, in Pittsburgh and graduated from North Catholic High School in 1953. He received a bachelor of arts degree in business economics from Park College, Parkville, Mo., in 1973. The general also completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Following graduation from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and completed basic training at Sampson Air Force Base, N.Y. His initial duty assignment was at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. In April 1954 General Urschler entered pilot training as an aviation cadet, completing primary training at Hondo Air Base, Texas, and basic training at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his pilot wings in August 1955.

He was then assigned to the 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes Air Force Base, Kan., where he flew as co-pilot in RB-47E's, H's and K's, and EB-47H's. While assigned to this unit his duties included numerous tours of temporary duty to Japan, Greenland, Turkey, England and Alaska.

In December 1964 he began KC-135 transition training at Castle Air Force Base, Calif., and, upon completion, transferred to the 4157th Strategic Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. While there he served as an aircraft commander and instructor pilot in RC-135D's, E's and S's. He flew RC-135E's and S's from Shemya Air Force Station, Alaska. In May 1967 he was reassigned to the 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron now located at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as a crew commander and instructor pilot in RC-135C's and RC-135T's.

Reporting to the 82nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 376th Strategic Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in July 1970, General Urschler served as unit operations officer and concurrently performed duty as instructor pilot in RC-135M's. From June 1971 to May 1973, he commanded the 82nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. In May 1973 he returned to Offutt Air Force Base and entered the Bootstrap program at Park College.

Upon graduation in December 1973, he returned to Offutt Air Force Base as senior controller, director of command control, Headquarters Strategic Air Command.

From August 1975 to July 1977, General Urschler served as vice commander of the 301st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air Force Base, Ohio. He then took command of the wing. In May 1978 he returned to Offutt Air Force Base as commander of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. He transferred to Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., in August 1980 and served as commander of SAC's 47th Air Division.

The general is a command pilot and has more than 12,700 flying hours, 1,500 of which are combat hours. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1980, with date of rank May 31, 1980 and retired June 1, 1985.

Photo courtesy of Max Haynes of maxair2air.com
Information courtesy of the Commemorative Air Force