DAYTON, Ohio -- North American F-82B Twin Mustang in the Korean War Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (Photo courtesy of Airshow Traveler)
DAYTON, Ohio -- Col. Bob Thacker stands beside the North American F-82B Twin Mustang at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The museum's F-82B, "Betty-Jo," flew from Hawaii to New York on Feb. 27-28, 1947, a distance of 5,051 miles, the longest non-stop flight ever made by a propeller-driven fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo)
The F-82 was the last propeller-driven fighter acquired in quantity by the U.S. Air Force. It appears to be two P-51 Mustang fuselages on one wing, but in reality it was a totally new design. The Twin Mustang carried a pilot and co-pilot/navigator to reduce fatigue on long-range bomber escort missions. Production deliveries did not begin until early 1946, too late for World War II. After WWII, Air Defense Command flew radar-equipped F-82Gs as replacements for the P-61 night fighter. During the Korean War, Japan-based F-82Gs were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. On June 27, 1950, all-weather F-82Gs shot down the first three North Korean airplanes destroyed by U.S. forces.
Of a total of 273 F-82s produced, 20 were F-82Bs. The F-82B on display, Betty-Jo, flew from Hawaii to New York on Feb. 27-28, 1947, a distance of 5,051 miles, the longest non-stop flight ever made by a propeller-driven fighter. Betty-Jo came to the museum in 1957.
TECHNICAL NOTES: Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns, 25 5-inch rockets and 4,000 lbs. of
bombs Engines: Two Packard V-1650s of 1,380 hp each Maximum speed: 482 mph Cruising speed: 280 mph Range: 2,200 miles Ceiling: 39,000 ft. Span: 51 ft. 3 in. Length: 38 ft. 1 in. Height: 13 ft. 8 in. Weight: 24,800 lbs. maximum Serial number: 44-65168
