4483887

Developed for bomber interception duties, just before the outbreak of the Korean War. Carried a radar intercept officer in the second cockpit, who vectored the pilot to his target. With a large radar pod slung beneath the central wing section, the F-82 also replaced the Northrop P-61 Black Widow as the nation's front line night and all-weather interceptor. Great fears, in those days that Stalin had assembled a huge fleet of bombers, capable of striking US targets. Same concerns created the rings of Nike Ajax ( and later Nike-Hercules ) air defense missile bases around major cities and industrial or strategic targets.

This a/c is the 2nd prototype of the North American XP-82 Twin Mustang 44-83887 in flight over California's Sierra Mountains ca. '45. Amazingly, this a/c still exists and is being restored by Tom Reilly in Douglas, Georgia after spending decades outside in the Walter Soplata "collection". Check here for more info: xp-82twinmustangproject.blogspot.com/p/home_17.html

This a/c is North American XP-82 Twin Mustang 44-83887 (2nd prototype) in flight ca. '45.

This a/c is North American XP-82 Twin Mustang 44-83887 (2nd prototype) in flight ca. mid-'45.