Origins of the Swiss Air Force P-51's from USAAF Surplus stocks in Germany

The Swiss Air Force P-51 Mustang fleet was far from being new aircraft; most of them were veterans from World War 2 in Europe and had seen service and combat with various Fighter and Tactical Reconnaissance units of the 8th and 9th USAAF. 

Postwar, most of the P-51's were used by the Occupational units of the USAAF in Germany, but starting in mid-1946, the P-51's were outphased and put into open storage at various airfields in Southern Germany, the last being sent there in September 1947.

From these Airfields, the now retired P-51 Mustangs were sold off to friendly Air Forces, such as Sweden, France, Italy, and Switzerland. The remainder of the Mustangs in storage were reduced to spares and eventually scrapped.

J-2012 at Payerne in 1948 - the former USAAF markings (370th FG 402nd FS) are still discernible.

P-51D 44-72322 E6-A 'Nancy Lee' of the 370th FG 402nd FS Stuttgart airfield in 1946 - this Mustang became J-2048

P-51D's parked at Fürth 1946

Header Photo: P-51D's parked at Fürth-Industriehafen Airfield, Germany, in 1946. Nearest aircraft is 44-72258 B6-B 'Little Joe' of the 357th FG 363rd FS. This aircraft was later sold to the Swiss Air Force and became J-2066.