This Day in Aviation History
June 15th, 1945
First flight of the North American F-82 Twin Mustang.

The North American F-82 Twin Mustang was the last American piston-engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter in World War II; however, the war ended well before the first production units were operational.

In the postwar era, Strategic Air Command used the planes as a long-range escort fighter. Radar-equipped F-82s were used extensively by the Air Defense Command as replacements for the Northrop P-61 Black Widow as all-weather day/night interceptors. During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces were shot down by F-82s, the first being a North-Korean Yak-11 downed over Gimpo Airfield by the USAF 68th Fighter Squadron….

Source:
Wikipedia, North American F-82 Twin Mustang: http://gstv.us/1Bg8MzL

YouTube, Explaining the F-82 Twin Mustang: http://gstv.us/25OswZU

It won’t be too much longer before we have a Twin Mustang flying! This particular Twin Mustang is actually one of the original prototypes. Also, sometime in the next couple of years, we will have a second airworthy Twin Mustang!

YouTube, XP-82 Twin Mustang First Engine Run: http://gstv.us/2rlybnw
By Warbirds News

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Photo from: http://gstv.us/25OsPDT

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