The P-51 Mustang from World War II was a critical airplane for the Allied forces, but it's also one of the more recognizable aircraft because of its scoop.

In this WWII sim scenario, a P-51 Mustang faces a surprise Luftwaffe ambush over France circa 1944. With one wing critically damaged, the pilot fights to keep the aircraft level.

The P-51 Mustang: How a Rapidly Developed Fighter Became a WWII Legend Shortly after surrendering to U.S. forces at the end of the Second World War in 1945, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering had ...

-The P-51’s durability and firepower, with six .50 caliber machine guns, made it a formidable opponent. -Mustang pilots shot down nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft, with over 250 achieving ace status.

A P-51 Mustang flies over Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., during a 2015 event. (A1C Philip Bryant/Air Force) For the Allied forces, the skies over Europe from 1942 to 1943 brought ...

When flying against the older Fw 190, the backbone of Nazi Germany's air force, the P-51 conquered handily. It could climb better, had a further range allowing it to stay in the fight longer, and ...

The P-51 was reliable, deadly, and versatile, but like any military vehicle rushed through design and production because of WWII, it had plenty of weaknesses to go with its many strengths.

Initially equipped with the Lockheed P-38J Lightning, the squadron began transitioning to the North American P-51D Mustang in August 1944. On Sept. 23, McCubbin was promoted to first lieutenant.

READ MORE: Remembering Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson’s Lofty Dream About the P-51 Mustang According to Mustangs.com, some 15,586 North American P-51 Mustangs were built between 1940 and 1945.