This is not necessarily the sort of book I would typically buy. Not because I don't like the Mustang or have an interest in it, but because my interests tend to lie more with the Operational history of the Groups that operated the aircraft as opposed to an in-depth technical analysis of the aircraft from its design through to a certain point of its deployment.
So why did I buy it? Well, it's written by a friend of mine and fellow "Boundary of Disaster" podcast host Matt Willis (Matt, I hope you don't mind what I said above). Therefore, I will try not to sound too biased, but it will be difficult as this book is, honestly, rather good.
I think I know Matt well enough now to know that the depth of his knowledge on specific aircraft types, notably the Fairy Swordfish, is impressive. Matt has taken the time to understand many of the technical features of these aircraft to understand what makes them what they are. "Mustang - The Untold Story" is one such example, but please don't let that frighten you. If like me, you're concerned that the face you'll make while reading much of the book will be one of confusion, you do not need to worry. Matt expertly describes all of the technical nuances of the various Mk's of the Mustang in such a way that even those with a basic understanding of that side of things could understand it. I commend Matt for that, as that is not an easy thing to do, but his book does an excellent job of explaining what worked and what didn't on the Mustang, why, and how it affected the way it could be and was used.
I think one of Matt's most critical topics is the misconceptions surrounding the Mustang and the reasons behind why it was developed. As anyone who has read anything I have written will no doubt know, tackling deeply ingrained misconceptions that date back decades is not a fight easily won. You do, though, come away from reading this book confident that your understanding of the Mustang and where it came from is much greater.
I do Matt a slight disservice in the first paragraph of this review, as he does delve into some of the Operational histories of the type and the missions it flew. One thing I would be keen to point out, however, is that if you're looking for a book about the archetypal Mk of the Mustang, the "P-51D" or Mustang Mk IV (depending on which Nation you're viewing it from), you won't find that in this one. Instead, Matt focuses on the Mk's powered only by the Allison V-12s, the purist's Mustang, and a period in which it saw the most development. It is, for me, the most critical period of the war for an aircraft that has become as synonymous with victory as the Spitfire. To understand the Mustang fully, you must understand its birth and growth as an aircraft.
You might have guessed by now this comes highly recommended, and if you want a copy, they're available on Amazon (obviously), the publishers website (key publishing), and various other places.
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