Quiz anyone?

[Steve-the-Duck]

Well now, that's the most detailed history of the Mustang I've seen.
I had thought the P-51, to be, was a development of the A-36 Apache / Invader, a RE-design and made role specific for the RAF, rather than a COMPLETELY NEW 'plane (as is so often trumpeted)

I stand enlightened

[stona]

Don't you find the British system of classification nomenclature is better?

I do, but I'm almost certainly biased!

It might well be that our American friends find their system better.

I would add that in the UK system the development and order of the various Mark numbers can be confusing. The Spitfire would be a prime example of this. Hurricane classifications can be a minefield! Then you get various sub-types. The differences between a Kittyhawk Mk.I and a Kittyhawk Mk.IA might actually be easier expressed in the US system (P-40D and P-40E).

In all honesty, if I had to pick a system, I'd pick the German RLM system. Aircraft type (including manufacturer's prefix) - Model (letter) - Mark or sub-type (dash number). I mean Fw 190 A-8 is pretty self explanatory.

[Steve-the-Duck]

A6M - Carrier Fighter No.6 from Mitsubishi. Otherwise known as the 'Zero', from the year of manufacture (2600).
Simples!
Not that anyone outside of Japan in 1942 had any idea what their system was