WITH what bilge Glyn Limmer concludes his letter September 21, ‘Mustang Mistake’. His assertion that “the only American part of the craft were the stars on the wings” could not be further from the truth.

The Mustang was conceived, designed and built in the US by North American Aviation, in response to specifications issued directly to NAA by the British Purchasing Commission in Washington in early 1940.

The Mustang was first designed to use low-altitude rated Allison Engines, as has already been noted. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7 engine, a licensed version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 series two-stage two-speed supercharged engine, The aircraft was armed with six 50 calibre M2 Browning machine guns, instead of the British-required eight machine guns: four .30 calibre and four .50 calibre machine guns. The first aircraft arrived at Liverpool in October 1941.

So you see, Mr Limmer, the conception and design by an American aircraft company, assembly with American material by American workers is much more than the star on the wing. The engine, although a British engine, was built in the US by an American company and American workers. Ultimately, the armaments were to American specification.

A sad footnote to this is that the aircraft which crashed at the Reno Air Show last week was a Mustang P51D, manufactured in 1944 and modified for air racing .

JAMES WADE, Ridgeway Road, Headington