Aircraft
by Nation
United States
Army/Air Force (1924 - 1962)
Fighter (Pursuit): The
designation "P" for Pursuit was a continuation of pursuit
designations used starting in 1919. When an independent Air Force
was established in 1947, the designation was changed to "F" for
fighter but the model number sequence was left unchanged. For
example the P-51 Mustang was redesignated the F-51 Mustang in 1947.