North American P-51D

The P-51 was designed as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The design showed promise and the AAF purchases of Allison-powered Mustangs began in 1941 primarily for photo recon and ground support use due to its limited high-altitude performance. But in 1942, tests of P-51s using the British Roll-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed much improved speed and service ceiling, and in December 1943, Merlin-powered P-51Bs first entered combat in Europe. Providing high-altitude escort of B-17s and B-24s, they scored heavily over German interceptors and by the war's end, P-51s had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air, more than any other AAF fighter in Europe. During World War II Robins was responsible for logistics support and depot repairs on all P-51s in the Southeast. The aircraft on display is a replica made up of components of several different aircraft and was assembled as an exhibit with the help of the Eastman Heart of Georgia Vocational School. Its markings are those of the aircraft flown by Wallace E. Hopkins of Washington, Georgia, when he was deputy commander of the 361st Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, in England during World War II.

During World War II, the Warner Robins Air Technical Service Center was responsible for the logistics support of all Mustangs assigned to bases in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. The aircraft on display was restored by students at the Eastman Heart of Georgia Vocational Technical School using parts from three different P-51s.÷ Its markings are those of the P-51D flown by Wallace E. Hopkins of Washington, Georgia, when he was deputy commander of the 361st Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, in England during World War II.