Gunfighter is a North American P-51D Mustang, accepted into US Army Air Corps service in March of 1945! This Mustang flew with the 8th Air Force, returned home in July of '45, an flew with the Air National Guard until being withdrawn in 1956. It is painted in the colors of the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. The 55th was the first unit to escort the bombers all the way to Berlin, which only the long-range P-51D could do.

Gunfighter is based out of Nebraska, and thanks to the efforts of people like my pilot, Jeff Linebaugh, and people willing to pay the money to go up for the ride of your life, we all get to enjoy this iconic piece of history. Maintenance and upkeep to keep these old warbirds in flying condition is a very expensive proposition. Though the Mustang is the most numerous of the WWII fighter left, probably less than 100 are still flying in the world, out of over 16,000 built. They actually served up til the '80s in some smaller air forces!