Bob Sharp tells us what it was like flying P-51s in an Air National Guard unit right after WWII. This is unique because he went from flying P-47 Thunderbolts in the war to flying P-51 Mustangs during peacetime operations. He shares rare insights on having flown both.
Director: Andrew Horton
Editor: Krishna Teja Kurapati
Narration: John-Michael Sedor
Art: Steve Cox
Photos: US Archives, Bill Larkins
#aviation #history #fighteraircraft
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"…They would watch us strafe, and drop napalm, and all that kind of stuff." These ol' boys were a different breed.
Ai
P-47 pilot/vet tells us about the country club before the jet age.
Thank you sir for your service God-bless you sir
You've got a p-47 pilot who then flies a 51 and all he talks about is tennis rackets. You've got the opportunity to ask him about the characteristics of the two planes and the differences and instead he talks about tennis. Wasted wasted opportunity
Dropping bombs and playing tennis 😆
My old boss flew the Jug in WW2 out of Martlesham Heath in England; his first mission was on D day covering landings. His unit later transitioned to the P-51, and his checkout consisted of a few circuits around the pattern and reading a copy of the dash 1. He had some incredible stories.
The P-47 had an air-cooled radial engine, which is more tolerant and survivable to battle damage. The P-51 had one vulnerability: its liquid cooling system. One bullet or flak puncture in the radiator, or the coolant pipelines, there will be coolant loss, the engine will overheat and seize up. Then, you’re going down.
The Army Air Force had an inside joke:
“If you want to impress your girlfriend back home, fly a P-51 and tell her about it. If you want to survive and go home to marry her, fly a P-47.”
God bless you and all who served sir.
Always been a fan of the P-51D. It's a gorgeous aircraft and I'm jealous of those men that got to fly it.
I want to hear how it performed comparing the two. I’m sure the Mustang was better but I want to hear the detailed difference from someone first hand. Oh well.
Ilhan Omar is a total cunt!
Many countries used the P-51 as an interceptor going into the 1960's same for the P-80's and F-86's the excellence of American aircraft!
Man, I wished they did airshows today like that. Live fire
He didnt utter a single specific comparison between the two aircraft
..lots of.talk about tennis racquets though if you like that sort of thing…
I would rather fly the P47 than the Mustang during the war since the P47 was the most survivable fighter of the war do to all its armor!!!
Awesome!!🎉🎉👍👍😎
❤❤❤
He only "Tells you what it's like" the last 5 seconds…
But which one did you like better
No comparison conversation.??
He said very little about the plane.
Thank you sir for your service to these great states of America!
So what it was like flying P-51?
I really learned nothing about the P-51 or difference between it and the P-47 or what it was like. Nice fellow. Bad title.
Great guy, great guys and great pilots Fatastic interview. Thanks guys for your service ! Sorry that l missed those war years, that's what l get for being 5 yrs. of age then at least l was running barefoot around the house with my wooden airplane and making roaring sounnds !!🇺🇸Blessings !
Basically after the war, some of this mix pilot just touring the country doing nothing more than flying for shown and exercise. Rest time probably just gonna play tennis and card cause why not..