America at war. Women tape up a mustang fighter bomber for a sear journey.

America at war. Women tape up a mustang fighter bomber for a sear journey. When in the air, a United States P-51 Mustang fighting-bomber is as tough as its namesake - the wiry horse that once roamed the western plains of America. But when being transported by sea to U.S. Army Air Force and Allied bases the world over, the P-51 is out of its clement and must be carefully protected against damage. Here women at a U.S. Atlantic Coast base are preoparing a Musting for shipment. All openings and seams are taped and scaled, and the pilot's canopy is covered with tape and heavy paper. The plane then is sprayed with a plastic coat. The P-51, one of the world's fastest planes, can operate at a bomber escort for more than 1,200 miles (1,920 kilometers) or can carry a half-ton (450 kilograms) of bombs for shorter distances.