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Next to the report function 3 dots press that .Served only in the Pacific
EDIT: can't edit using iPhone. Is this common or just me?
Wish we had the month and year of the photo. No P-51As went to the PTO, so either went to the 1st Air Commando Unit or the Flying Tigers. Either was CBI.Resp:
Enroute to CBI Theater? Or are they F-6B Mustangs headed to ETO? Think any are Mustangs MKIIs for RAF?
Resp:Caption for the photo.....
"Escort carrier USS Altamaha transporting a deck load of P-51A Mustang fighters has just left Alameda, passed under the San Francisco Bay Bridge (background) and steams toward the Golden Gate, 16 Jul 1943"
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Resp:The P-51A/Mustang Mk.II aircraft destined for the RAF were prepared and shipped using the same basic process as had been used since the Mustang Mk.I purchase. Aircraft were broken down into major components, protective coverings and packing put in place, then placed as a complete aircraft 'package' into a custom built wooden container that was further weather/waterproofed for protection during shipping. This was done by NAA at the factory in California. They were then shipped by rail to their port of departure. In some cases this involved shipping from a west coast USA port to a east coast port via the Panama Canal, others shipped directly by rail to port of departure on east coast. The RAF Mustang Mk.II were distributed across a number of ships that were part of four convoys - two from Halifax and two from New York, that sailed over the period 7-27 June 1943, arriving in Liverpool over the period 21 June to 11 July 1943. First of them are recorded at Lockheed Speke for uncrating and reassembly 28 June 1943.
Resp: .... Think any are Mustangs MKIIs for RAF?
Resp:Responding to this part of your earlier post. As the way they were shipped for the RAF was not via deck cargo on escort carriers.
Yes, they were boxed for shipping and then re-assembled upon arrival in the UK at Lockheeds at Speke. The E&M Manuals for the P-51 and P-51A both included the aircraft breakdown for preparation for shipping and the basic dimensions and requirements for the construction of crate and cradles. Basically wing removed from fuselage, tail group removed, propeller removed, ancilliaries and GFE packed in boxes, main airframe components wrapped in a protective coating and placed into frames screwed/bolted into base of shipping box, then sides, roof and ends of shipping crate added. There are some photos in the Boeing Archive of Mustang Mk.II FR912 being prepped for shipping and partially crated - what's more they are period colour photos - one of them comes up in the online archive search using "Mustang" . There are earlier b&w photos around of Mustang Mk.I and Mk.IA being prepped and crated at NAA and uncrated at Speke. In the case of the Mustang Mk.IIs for the RAF, after initial reassembly at Lockheeds Speke, they sat around for some time before being sent to a RAF Maintenance Unit where they were fully prepared and brought up to latest required modification level for RAF service, which included stripping back to bare metal and repainting in standard RAF day fighter scheme with current national marking scheme, plus fitting RAF required equipment eg camera mounts, RAF radios and IFF, RAF required modifications to engine controls and engines - 'de-rating' modifications to supercharger impellor to improve performance below 10,000ft. Depending on availability of Malcolm Hood conversion kits, some were modified with Malcolm Hoods at this stage, otherwise converted later when airframes went in for major servicing or if held at a Group Support Unit, before issue to an operational Squadron.Resp:
Boxed and assembled once they reach England?
Yes, they were boxed for shipping and then re-assembled upon arrival in the UK at Lockheeds at Speke. The E&M Manuals for the P-51 and P-51A both included the aircraft breakdown for preparation for shipping and the basic dimensions and requirements for the construction of crate and cradles. Basically wing removed from fuselage, tail group removed, propeller removed, ancilliaries and GFE packed in boxes, main airframe components wrapped in a protective coating and placed into frames screwed/bolted into base of shipping box, then sides, roof and ends of shipping crate added. There are some photos in the Boeing Archive of Mustang Mk.II FR912 being prepped for shipping and partially crated - what's more they are period colour photos - one of them comes up in the online archive search using "Mustang" . There are earlier b&w photos around of Mustang Mk.I and Mk.IA being prepped and crated at NAA and uncrated at Speke. In the case of the Mustang Mk.IIs for the RAF, after initial reassembly at Lockheeds Speke, they sat around for some time before being sent to a RAF Maintenance Unit where they were fully prepared and brought up to latest required modification level for RAF service, which included stripping back to bare metal and repainting in standard RAF day fighter scheme with current national marking scheme, plus fitting RAF required equipment eg camera mounts, RAF radios and IFF, RAF required modifications to engine controls and engines - 'de-rating' modifications to supercharger impellor to improve performance below 10,000ft. Depending on availability of Malcolm Hood conversion kits, some were modified with Malcolm Hoods at this stage, otherwise converted later when airframes went in for major servicing or if held at a Group Support Unit, before issue to an operational Squadron.