Recent content by drgondog

Geoffrey, I would add two P-51D/-D1 from the NA-104 line at 42-106539/540, two XP-78/51B from P-51-NA. I saw your note about pre-production above, but the first two D's were intended to bifurcate the P-51B-10 line at 42-106538 and had all the approved production changes separating P-51B-10 from...

The A-36 was contracted and delivered with dive bombing capability per funding guidelines. In fact it was designed to fulfill 'Low Altitude Attack' role then envisioned by Plans/CAS Division. The AAF was in process of changing CAS from dive bombing to 'battlefield air superiority' with...

Great image - shows a depot mod fuse tank inst'l for P-51B-5 in CBI. Probably among the first.

It 'evolved' from the NA-83 Mustang I into the NA-97 A-36 Mustang and thence into the NA-91 P-51A Actually detailed design began before the final NA Specification 1620 for P-51 aircraft was completed on April 24 as NA-73X was morphing from P-509 first submitted to BPC in third week of March...

The NA-73 XP-51 serial was 41-038 and 41-039. that one would have "1038" on fin. The P-51-NA was NA-91 and preceded the NA-97 A-36. Strictly speaking the NA-91 P-51 was 58 units out of 150 Mustang IA ordered by RAF The P-51 wing was set back ~6" further from the tip of the spinned than the...

I don't think you understood my question. The aircraft were damaged the night of June 21/22. Assuming that the decision that several were deemed unflyable to Italy on the 23rd, where the 4th FG would join the 15th AF for two weeks before returning the last Shuttle leg to UK - that would only...

I highly recommend soaring be on student pilot list of 'to-do'. No better trainer for coordinated stick and rudder turns. Not to mention getting a feel for emergency approach 'engine out' scenario.

Fix, train, deploy in four days - a unique fighter that previously did not exist in USSR - rather than remove and study in detail?

While true that June 26, 1944 could be a plausible connection, there are some key issues. First, the Poltava attack on night of June 21st(?) damaged some Mustangs and were left behind when the 4th/352nd squadrons departed for Italy. Those were the first P-51B/D Mustangs in VVS hands. Second...

The British delivered only Mark I. The 8th AF left about 10 P-51B/C/D behind for mechanical issues following the June 20 and September 18 Shuttle missions to Ukraine,

Mat.Cmd directed that all aircraft delivered after Jan 1 1944 be unpainted. It took about three weeks to flully drain a/c in paint shops. All a/c arriving in ETO by late March were NMF,

The 322nd first mission was uneventful, save 10/11 all suffered flak damage. The second on May 17 resulted in 10/11 shot down at Ijmuiden. The survivor aborted. Eaker ordered the 322nd to stand down for more training and they didn't fly another mission until July 28 near end of Blitz Week...

I get the 'less work'/better quality and marketing of a publisher. If I find the right one I will take that approach. Black and white is acceptable delivery format, but I have several tables where bars separated in color would be useful. My intention regarding this book is that it become one...

I have completed manuscript, image and drawing and document assembly and was ready for final step with Pen & Sword when I fired them for trying to low-ball me on commissions. I have reached out to Cercy and back to Osprey but my Lightweight Mustang story is a combination of the history of...

The fighter pilot that breaks away first is at a disadvantage, not only in giving away a 'larger' target at low deflection, but also possibly tactical neutrality.