P-51 Mustang Collides and Crashes Over England

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This is rather sad: A P-51 Mustang—one of the most beautiful airplanes in history—was destroyed after colliding with a Douglas A-1 Skyraider over the skies of England.

Fortunately, no pilots were injured. The Skyraider landed with a bit of a scratch and the Mustang pilot jumped off before the crash.

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The Skyrider was a Navy attack plane that become operative just in time for the Korean War, flying for the first time in March 1945. And while it was beautiful on its own right, it was no match for the elegance and classic design of the P-51 Mustang, which was the backbone of the USAF's fighter attack force.

The Mustangs destroyed thousands of Nazi aircraft, with great style and furious anger, while escorting bombers to their targets all over Europe. Considered by many pilots as the best American dogfighter in the war, there are not many left now. Sad to see one of these beasts go away like this. [BBC England]