[American]

In late 1944, the army airforce was so desperate for long range fighter cover (the Mustang had a range of 1600 miles with drop tanks) in the Pacific, top secret trials (code name Seahorse project) were carried out by testing modified Mustangs taking off and landing off the deck of US carriers. Plans were canceled for "Seahorse" after the Marines captured Iwo Jima, establishing a base the fighters could use to escort the B-29 Superfortress