(from Webster's) 1. a small hardy naturalized horse of United States western plains directly descended from horses brought in by the Spaniards.
The P-51 MUSTANG was originally produced for the Royal Air Force by North American Aviation. It was later adopted by the US Army Air Force, for the Mustang was one of the finest fighters made. Having a longer range than the P-40, it was able to escort bombers on missions over continental Europe. It was the mount of many famous aces like Chuck Yeager.
Difficult times can bring out the best in a society. During World War 2, the US needed all the pilots it could get. For the first time, African Americans were allowed to be combat pilots. They formed the famous Tuskegee Airmen, and the P-51 was their favourite aircraft. Women were also trained to fly fighters. Aviator Jacqueline Cochran organised the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP's). Many of these P-51's were ferried across the Atlantic by woman pilots.
The shortage of men put large numbers of women into the work force. Rosie the Riveter and her sisters helped win the battle for production. This aeroplane may have been built by women. Wars are won by logistics, and women were the shieldmaidens. They paved the way for women to enter technical fields after the war.
After the war, these swords were hammered into plowshares. The P-51 became a star of the airshow circuit. In 1950, Jacqueline Cochran flew a P-51 to break the speed record for propellor aircraft. With the need passed, nearly all the African and woman pilots were returned to society. Many years later, another generation of women and minorities started appearing in the pilot's seat.
Some of you have faced the challenges to women and minorities in science. No one can deny that they exist. Even if a woman's ideas are better than others, she may be dismissed as a 'crackpot'. If our science and engineering are to stay ahead, we must encourage people to stay in science. A few heroes can pave the way for others to follow. Somehow, freedom and truth always win out.