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Long Way to victory – Iwo to Tokyo in a Mustang

Owner and longtime P-51 pilot Selby Burch painted his Mustang in the 47th FS 15th FG colors as a tribute to the VLR pilots of the Pacific Theater. Already having proven itself in Europe, the P-51 was the obvious choice to shepherd the B-29s all the way to Tokyo. (Photo by Jim Koepnick/EAA)

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The bombing campaigns over Europe and Japan were as different as tea and sake, with one exception: Mustangs were the escort of choice for both—and for obvious reasons. While the B-17s and B-24s reigned supreme over fortress Europe, the distances in the Pacific--especially to the Japanese mainland—were greater, and only the B-29 had the range to make the trip with a big bomb load. And only the Mustang, with its long legs and fuel efficiency,...

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