 P-51Bs and P-51Cs started to arrive in England in August and October 1943.The P-51B/P-51C versions were sent to 15 fighter groups that were part of the 8th and 9th Air Forces in England and the 12th and 15th in Italy (the southern part of Italy was under Allied control by late 1943).Other deployments included the China Burma India Theater (CBI).