My North American F-82 Twin Mustang with a gun pod. History down below.



North American F-82 Twin Mustang From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "F-82" redirects here. For other uses, see F82 (disambiguation). P-82/F-82 Twin Mustang North American XP-82 Twin Mustang 44-83887.Color.jpg XP-82 prototype Role Long-range escort fighter and night fighter Manufacturer North American Aviation First flight 15 June 1945 Introduction 1946 Retired 1953 Primary user United States Air Force Number built 272 Unit cost US$215,154[1] Developed from North American P-51 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.