Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth R Martin, Commanding Officer of the 354th Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 13 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '296915.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE P-51B, WORLD'S FASTEST FIGHTER PLANE IS NOW ESCORTING BIG BOMBERS OVER GERMANY. It can now be revealed that the P-51B new US single engine fighter plane is now on escort duty with American [illegible] in raids on Germany. It participated in the biggest air battle of the war on January 1 during the great raid on vital targets in North-West Germany. A new improved version of the Mustang which has been used with such success by the RAF, this the newest aircraft to be used in the European Theatre of Operations, is the longest-ranged single engine fighter plane in the world and one of the fastest, The main difference between it and the mustang are that it has a Rolls Royce Merlin Engine instead of the Allison Engine which increase its range as a high altitude fighter. Associated Press Photo Shows: Lt Col Kenneth R Martin, Commanding Officer of the P-51 Group in England about to set off on an operational flight. Aged 27 his home address is at 7500 East 37th Street, Kansas City, Mo. He led all the secret trial mission of the new plane.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Martin first CO 354 FG.'