P-51D Mustang BunnyP 51D Bunny Tuskegee airplane model. The North American Aviation P 51 Mustang is an American long range, single seat fighter and fighter bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a design team headed by James Kindelberger of North American Aviation in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation to