The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Jack Trovato & The Rhine Crossing(Varsity)(3/24/1945) - Aug 20th, 2003

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/5340/18corps/17abn/17_overview.html ^ | Jack Trovato

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
North American P-51 "Mustang"

One of the most effective, famous and beautiful fighter aircraft of WWII, the P-51 was designed to fulfill a British requirement dated April 1940. Because of the rapidly-mounting clouds of war in Europe, the UK asked North American Aircraft to design and build a new fighter in only 120 days. The NA-73X prototype was produced in record time, but did not fly until 26 October 1940. The first RAF production models, designated Mustang Mk Is, underwent rigorous testing and evaluation, and it was found that the 1,100-hp Allison engine was well suited for low-altitude tactical reconnaissance, but the engine's power decreased dramatically above an altitude of 12,000 feet, making it a poor choice for air-to-air combat or interception roles. Because of this, the RAF left its eight machine guns intact, but also fitted the Mustang with cameras. In this configuration, it served in at least 23 RAF squadrons, beginning in April 1942.

At the same time, the US Army Air Corps ordered a small number for tactical reconnaissance evaluation as the F-6A. After the RAF found the aircraft's performance lacking, they tested a new engine, the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin. This gave much-improved performance, and led to the USAAF fitting two airframes with 1,430-hp Packard-built Merlin V-1650 engines. These aircraft were redesignated XP-51B. Practically overnight, the aircraft's potential began to grow.

Since the RAF had had good success with the Mustang in a ground attack role, the USAAF bought 500 aircraft fitted with dive brakes and underwing weapons pylons. These were initially designated the A-36A Apache, but later retained the name Mustang. Almost simultaneously, they ordered 310 P-51As with Allison engines. Some of these were delivered to the UK as Mustang Mk IIs, and some became F-6B reconnaissance aircraft for the USAAF.

The first Merlin-engined versions appeared in 1943 with the P-51B, of which 1,988 were built in Inglewood, California, and the P-51C, of which 1,750 were built in Dallas, Texas. Both new versions had strengthened fuselages and four wing-mounted 12.7-mm machine guns. Many of these new Mustangs were delivered to the UK as Mustang Mk IIIs, and others went to the USAAF as F-6Cs. The Merlin-powered Mustangs were exactly what the Allied bombers in Europe desperately needed, and they became famous for their long range and potent high-altitude escort capability. The most significant variant, the P-51D, featured a 360-degree-view bubble canopy, a modified rear fuselage, and six 12.77-mm machine guns. 7,956 were built, and once again, many went to the UK as Mustang Mk IVs and others became USAAF F-6D reconnaissance aircraft. Next came the P-51K, which was generally similar. A third of these became RAF Mustang IVs also, and over a hundred became F-6Ks. Very late in the war, the P-51H appeared, although only 555 of 2000 were completed before V-J Day caused the cancellation of the order. US production totaled 15,386, but at least 200 more were built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation of Australia with imported parts and designated Mustang Mk 20/21/22/23. None of these saw service before the end of the war. Under the Lend-Lease program, 50 P-51s were supplied to China, and 40 more were supplied to the Netherlands in the Pacific theater.

After the war, the P-51 remained in US service with the Strategic Air Command until 1949, and with the Air National Guard and Reserves into the 1950s. It became one of the first fighters to see combat in the Korean War. The RAF's fighter Command used them until 1946. In addition, over 50 air forces around the world acquired and used the Mustang for many more years, some as recently as the early 1980s. When the US Air Force realigned their aircraft designations in the 1950s, the Mustang became the F-51.

In the last 40 years, surplus Mustangs have been modified and used extensively as civilian air racers, but the latest trend is for private owners to restore them to almost perfect, historically-accurate condition. As public appreciation for the Mustang has grown, the monetary value of the few remaining examples has skyrocketed. War-surplus P-51s, once auctioned from storage for less than (US) $2000, are now often valued at three-quarters of a million dollars or more. The restoration of existing airframes has become a small industry in the US, UK and Australia, and the total number of flyable examples, despite one or two accidents each year, is growing. Several Mustangs have been or are currently being restored as two-seat, dual-control TF-51s, a trend which promises to ensure that today's operators are better-trained than any previous generation of Mustang pilots.

Specifications:
Contractor: North American Aviation, Inc.
Primary Function: Pursuit (Long range fighter)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $54,000
Powerplant: Packard built Rolls-Royce "Merlin" V-1650 of 1,695 hp

Dimensions:
Length: 32 ft 3 in
Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in
Height: 13 ft 8 in
Weights: Empty: 7,640 lb / Maximum Takeoff: 12,110 lb

Performance :
Speed: 437 mph
Ceiling: 41,900 ft
Range: 1,000 miles

Armaments:
Six .50-cal. machine guns
Ten 5 in. rockets, or 2,000 lbs. of bombs

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All photos Copyright of their respective websites.

[Soaring Feather]

I'm in.
Am I facing the right way?

We well have to ask the wizard!!

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Johnny.

Undeniably one of the best fighters to come out of WWII, once the Merlin engine was installed.

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today
House Search

Soldiers of the 115th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard, prepare to search an Iraqi home believed to be the site of bomb making and weapon storage on July 31, 2003. This raid in the town of Fallujah, Iraq is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Liddy


Soldiers of the 115th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard, prepare to search an Iraqi home believed to be the site of bomb making and weapon storage on July 31, 2003. This raid in the town of Fallujah, Iraq is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Liddy


Soldiers with the 115th Military Police Company question an Iraqi man about his home in Fallujah, Iraq, July 31, 2003. His home was believed to be used for making bombs and storing weapons. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Liddy


Soldiers of the 115th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard, question an Iraqi. His home is believed to be the site of bomb making and weapon storage on July 31, 2003. This raid in the town of Fallujah, Iraq is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Liddy


Confiscated weapons are found in a house search by the 115th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard. This raid in the town of Fallujah, Iraq is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Liddy


Soldiers of the 115th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard, prepare to search an Iraqi home believed to be the site of bomb making and weapon storage on July 31, 2003. This raid in the town of Fallujah, Iraq is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Liddy

[Darksheare]

*Magic 8 ball says 'Not in this lifetime'*
Uh oh...

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the MP pics SAM.

[colorado tanker]

Interesting post, Sam. I'd always heard the 17th Airborne's drop was an unecessry cake walk, planned so they could get in a combat jump before the war ended. It sure didn't sound like a cake walk from this description. I guess I must have fallen for propaganda from the 101st and 82nd.

[colorado tanker]

The P-51 was sure one beautiful airplane. I've always felt that the daylight bombing campaign over Germany was a failure until the P-51 came on the scene and provided fighter escort to the target.

[radu]

Our Military Today
House Search

Not a job I envy. This has got to be stressful. But these searches have yielded many caches of weapons that could've been used against our fighting men and women.

WAY TO GO, TROOPS!!!

[snippy_about_it]

*Magic 8 ball says 'Not in this lifetime'*

LOL! That's a keeper Darksheare.

[radu]

I'm in.
Am I facing the right way?

Hey, as long as you're in, that's "right way" enough! :-)

[radu]

Good Morning Radu. Up early today.

I wasn't up early. I was still up late. *giggle* Why do you think I chose "Sleepy" out of all those dwarves? I stay that way. LOL!

[SAMWolf]

I guess I must have fallen for propaganda from the 101st and 82nd.

LOL! I guess the first wave went relatively smooth, it was the follow-ups after the Germans had recovered from their surprise that ran into a lot of opposition.

[SAMWolf]

I've always felt that the daylight bombing campaign over Germany was a failure until the P-51 came on the scene and provided fighter escort to the target.

IMHO it would have failed because the 8th Air Force could not have susutained the losses it was taking and survive. The escorts to and from the target brought the losses down to an "acceptable" level and whittled away at the German Fighter arm.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon Radu.

[SAMWolf]

Radu the "Night Stalker" LOL!

[radu]

Radu the "Night Stalker" LOL!

Break out the crosses and garlic!! LOL!!
Howdy SAM. Glad I spotted your ping before I slipped out. Time to throw a little supper together. Got a hungry man growlin' at me. hehe! Hope your day's been a good one.

[SAMWolf]

I knew someone would post a picture of Kolchak.

I actually liked that series.

[Darksheare]

*Magic 8 ball says: "What? AH-Hah-hah-hah-hah-haaaa!"*

Trust my luck to get a psychotic Magic 8 ball...

My view of the radiator on the wall has improved somewhat.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Howdy friends. Good to see you all.

Good thread, Sam. Thanks so much.

click on the graphic