eBay: North American P-51 Mustang

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Russian pilots reportedly generally didn't like it. They thought it was too heavy, slow climbing, had heavy controls, and had way more range on internal fuel than they were used to, though the Soviet pilots weren't used to most western aircraft in general, while the British generally loved the Allison Mustangs for what they were.
 
The Mustang Is provided to the Russians were all very early production batch aircraft, unmodified. That is many of the modifications and fixes to the various issues that revealled themselves during early RAF testing and early RAF operational use, were not appied to these aircraft. Also a few of them had been used as the early trials aircraft by the RAF, so had been fairly heavily used in a short timeframe, were mechanically not treated sympathetically during the trials, so were somewhat 'clapped out'. When the RAF were advised that a number of their "brand new" Mustangs had to go to the Russians, they therefore chose aircraft that did not fully meet the latest production and modification status and that had already had some intensive use with the RAF and sent "as is". As a result, the aircraft then tested by the Russians did not have stellar performance and the Russians did not seek more. Not to mention, no spares, limited documentation........
 
To add to Colin's excellent summary, AG 348 was in the first batch of 10 that were classified as not suitable for combat due to failure of XX73 in static test. Buckling was experienced in lower longeron and stress panels behind the wing at 12g loading. The longerons were beefed up for #11 & Subsequent.
 
Still. I read some about the lagg and believe it or not, i think this pos will run circles at comrade ones.
Or and this is a distinct posibility, english secret service knew this one had capabilities. So run it down, tune it down and et presto no more demand for soviet p-51. Better have then P-39 comeradski. Far better.... yes. Big gunski.

The more for us.
 
Delightfully devious.
 
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I've read that very much the same thing happened with the USAAF and RAF when the AAF was leaning on them to provide more and newer model Mosquitos for night fighter use. there was a flyoff of the P-61 and Mosquito which, allegedly, was handily won by the P-61. Suddenly no more requests for Mosquitos.
 

eBay: Northrop P-61 Black Widow

Hi Navalwarrior, Yeah, that's the story they want you to believe, but the whole thing was rigged. I've been in touch with Kratz, Vicellio (who ran the test), and the British pilot who flew the Mosquito. The British Mosquito production was tied up, with nothing available for the Americans, so...
ww2aircraft.net
 
North American P-51D-20-NA 44-72503 GRAVEL GERTIE
Charles E Stublefield Killed in Action (KIA) crashed into North Sea
(359th FG, 369th FS) crashed into North Sea Apr 3, 1945. MACR 13968. Pilot reported that his oxygen was gone, aircraft went into dive and crashed into the water. Pilot killed.



  1. Charles E Stublefield | American Air Museum
  2. http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=44-72503&content=
  3. ORIGINAL WWII VINTAGE PHOTO - PILOT IN FRONT OF P-51 D MUSTANG "GRAVEL GERTIE" | eBay
 
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