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The American P-51 Mustang was only successful as a high-altitude escort fighter because the original American Allison engine was replaced with a Merlin - at the recommendation of the Air Fighting Development Unit here at Duxford.

"This created the most potent and successful long-range escort fighter of the war."

Strictly defensive in strategy, and short on range, neither Hurricane nor Spitfire can be used as fighter escorts on long-range reconnaissance or bombing missions, and neither Britain nor France has brought out an escort fighter like the U. S.'s new twin-engine, high-speed, long-range Lockheed P-38.

And until Britain develops an escort fighter it will have to rely for that work on a poor makeshift�light bombers, armed to do a job they were never built to do.