Captured P-51 in combat?

[JG57_Rall]

Hi Gents,
This is the page I found most of the color profiles for captured Allied aircraft color profiles. There is some info on the birds there too.
Captured Allied Aircraft
And the Structure of KG200 with a note about some of their aircraft is on this URL.
KG200 Orginization
This URL is Interesting too.
Luftwaffe Bomber Wing KG 200


Rall

 

[HealzDevo]

Cool, thank-you keep them coming they look like really interesting links. Used to have one that had a Spitfire that had been captured but I can't remember it.

 

[JG57_Rall]

Cool, thank-you keep them coming they look like really interesting links. Used to have one that had a Spitfire that had been captured but I can't remember it.

Your welcome HealzDevo,
Here is a picture and a couple more URL inks for you.

fleetairarmarchive

aircraftresourcecenter

And if you would like to see the pictures of our CFS1 captured flight models, check this link.

JG57/KG200

Rall

 

[Njaco]

Nice pic JG 57!

this should probably be in another section of this forum but have you ever tried CFS2?

 

[JG57_Rall]

Nice pic JG 57!

this should probably be in another section of this forum but have you ever tried CFS2?

My participation in this thread was in responce to the threads relating to KG200 and captured aircraft. I thought I was just taking part in the thread not starting the topic.

Yes I tried CFS2 and found it to arcade like. I prefer CFS1 It seems more of a simulation then a game to me. Besides we have done lots of work on CFS1 aircraft and scenerys in CFS1.

Rall

 

[Erich]

no JG 300 was never in the Med, JG 301 was for a short term with Bf 109G's.

the 325th fg must have mis-identified. Understand that KG 200 was and still remains a stealth outfit and it was against regulations even under a prison term to take ANY photos of the a/c flown by the unit. Were there single engine fighters flown like Bf 109G's / ......yes but not under the pretenses said in the thread. Also according to the book refernces/net about the unit there is still so much more that was done by this KG 200 that no-one will ever know and for good reason

 

[Njaco]

JG 57 That was me...not you...no harm...I was commenting that my reply probably should be elsewhere

Thanks Erich!

I thought as much about KG 200.

last night going through some old books of mine I found a pic of a crashed P-51 in German markings with the ststement that they were used to trail bomber formations giving spedd, direction, etc. to following fighters.

Could be this is what the FG encountered.

Incidently this was Aero series No. 15 "P-51" by Ed Maloney 1967

 

[JG57_Rall]

JG 57 That was me...not you...no harm...I was commenting that my reply probably should be elsewhere

No problem, I did`nt think I had stepped out of topic.

Rall

 

[HealzDevo]

Thanks, yes I think that could be at least one of the pictures. It does look familiar...

 

[racerguy00]

I caught the tail end of a Dogfight episode on TV the other day where a Tuskeegee airman broke off an engagement with a captured P-51 due to low fuel after shooting down an ME-262. Anyone know where that happened?

 

[alejandro_]

According to M.V Lowe book on the P-51 (Crowood series), a P-51C named Evalina was captured in Burma in late 1943. The Mustang, belongin to 56 FG, landed intact at Suchon airfield in China. It was then delivered to Japan (Fussa test centre) by Maj Yasuhiko Kuroe, from 64th Sentai. It was later moved to Akeno and used in mock dogfights against then current Japanese models.

- The P-51 systems and equipment were found to be considerably better than those equipping Japanese aircraft.
- Armour protection for the pilot was particularly better, and was of great interest to the Japanese pilots.
- Ground crews were very impressed by the lack of major oil leaks, and pilots liked its behaviour.
- The range caused concern because it meant that escorts could be provided if the US captured Pacific islands on the approach to Japan.

Is there any more detail on this evaluation?

 

[Erich]

sorry but the Stang could not be from the 56thfg as the 56th flew Jugs in the ETO

 

[alejandro_]

Typo, it was 51 FG.

 

[beaupower32]

Prior to January 1945, the Japanese obviously had some knowledge of the Mustang's performance as both IJN and IJAAF pilots fought against that aircraft on a regular basis. In addition, it seems safe to assume that the Japanese were able to study at least some wrecks and other Mustang-related material.

On January 16, 1945, an event occured that gave the Japanese military a chance to become much more familiar with the P-51 Mustang. On that day, 1.Lt. Oliver E. Strawbridge of the 26th FS, 51st FG, was hit by enemy gunfire and had to land at the japanese-held Suchin airfield in China. While some sources indicate he made a wheels-up landing, others claim he landed his airplane normally.

In any case his aircraft, a P-51C-11-NT nicknamed "Evalina", was rapidly seized by Japanese troops. It was repaired and given Hinomaru roundels and was then flown to the Fussa evaluation center (now Yokota airbase) in mainland Japan. There, it was test-flown by Japanese test pilots, who seem to have considered it a superb aircraft.

In the end, lack of spare parts finally grounded the plane. One ace was tasked to go shoot down another P-51 so they could aquire parts. The ace (name eludes me at the moment) did manage to shoot down a Mustang, but the plane landed in the Ocean, making it unsalvagable. The fate of the P-51C is unknown, though some spectulate that the plane was bulldozed into a lake, but the remains have never been found.

Two pictures of 1Lt. Strawbridge and "Evalina" before his January 16, 1945 mission. (Photos: USAF).

This is how "Evalina" probably looked like after passing into Japanese hands. The details of the markings after the cockpit area is unknown. Only the serial number and tactical number are known. © Gaëtan Marie

 

[Bernhart]

what happened to strawbridge?, captured? escaped?

 

[sb87]

what happened to strawbridge?, captured? escaped?

Hello,

I'm Lt. Oliver E. Stawbridge's grandaughter, although I never knew him. My grandfather was not the one flying his P51 that day. Apparently some other pilot flew his plane that day and ended up landing in a rice field after being shot down. I don't know what happened to that pilot, but my grandfather lived until 1987, I think. Evalina was his girlfriend's name at the time, I think, but he never ended up marrying her. My Grandma's name was Ruth Anne. Anyway, I just thought I'd share that bit of info with you since I saw this site when I googled my grandfather's name.

~Sara

 

[Smoke]

Hello,

I'm Lt. Oliver E. Stawbridge's grandaughter, although I never knew him. My grandfather was not the one flying his P51 that day. Apparently some other pilot flew his plane that day and ended up landing in a rice field after being shot down. I don't know what happened to that pilot, but my grandfather lived until 1987, I think. Evalina was his girlfriend's name at the time, I think, but he never ended up marrying her. My Grandma's name was Ruth Anne. Anyway, I just thought I'd share that bit of info with you since I saw this site when I googled my grandfather's name.

~Sara

Thanks for sharing the information!

It's amazing what you can come across online isn't it? I've been able to find out a lot about my Great-Uncle (a Marine fighter pilot who I never got to meet) through the internet.

Anyway, if you'd like some help or tips with you're research, just send me a message, I'd be glad to help out in any way I can.

 

[Njaco]

Welcome to the forum Sara and a heartfelt thanks for the info!

 

[Airframes]

Great stuff Sara, and thanks for sharing.

 

[alejandro_]

Thanks Sara for the insight and welcome.

Several P-51 were captured by the Luftwaffe. A P-51B landed intact* at Cambrai in June 1944 according to Luftwaffe test pilot Hans-Werner Lerche. Pilot was Lt. Thomas Fraser from 4 FG.

Luftwaffe test results with other tests performed:

Anyone knows what happened to this pilot and why did he land at Cambrai?

* some sources say the aircraft was damaged, but the test data are very good. I doubt that performance would be achievable with a heavily damaged frame.