IT’S nice to be pro-British, but I’m afraid that Glyn Limmer (September 21 ‘Mustang mistake’) goes a bit far when he states that the North American Mustang fighter was of British design.

Early in WWII, Britain was desperately in need of fighter aircraft, particularly after the loss of a third of them in France. The idea was to buy from the USA, but tests showed that the fighters America had to offer were not entirely satisfactory – the best being the Curtis Warhawk. In the event, no Warhawks were available because Curtis was committed to supplying the USAAF.

The British purchasing commission approached North American Aviation to see if it was prepared to manufacture Warhawks. James Kindelberger, the North American Aviation president, claimed he could design and build a better fighter in the time it would take to tool up for the Warhawk. The British purchasing commission took him at his word and the Air Ministry issued a specification, which suggested that this fighter be ready in six months. Kindelberger had a good idea what was required because he had previously been to Germany to study their aircraft and production methods.

The design of this new aircraft was put in the hands of North American's design team under Edgar Schmued. At this date the only in-line engine available was the GM Allison because Rolls-Royce had not yet licensed Packard to manufacture the Merlin and Rolls was fully committed to supplying British manufacturers. In any case it would seem very unlikely that Roll-Royce would want ship engines across the Atlantic.

I’m pretty sure the British Air Ministry had, from the start, made plans to re-engine some of these new aircraft if tests had shown that to be worthwhile. The only British input to these early aircraft was for some design changes – such as the fitting of armour protection for the pilot, self-sealing petrol tanks and the fitting of a sliding cockpit canopy.

In total, there were about 1,080 Alilson-engined Mustangs built, of which Britain took 620. America didn’t initially show much interest in the Mustang but changed its mind after suffering horrendous losses in daylight bombing raids. In the end, America took most of the Merlin/Mustangs, with Britain receiving 1,628.

A lot more could be said about the Mustang but one writer said it all when he wrote: “The Mustang was the answer to every fighter pilot’s dream. The speedy lines, smooth finish and classic lines marked it out as the culmination of its breed.”

DERRICK HOLT, Fortnam Close, Headington