Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
The vertically aligned guns on the D also eliminated the most of the jamming problems of the B also.
Thanks. Did not know that!I agree the general comment but the jamming issues were largely solved by April 1944 by adding electric boost motor to the belt feed
Resp:The vertically aligned guns on the D also eliminated the most of the jamming problems of the B also.
The "fastback" models generally were better than the bubble tops when it came to air racing after the war.
To fit the .50's upright they had to thicken the wing a bit.
Attached is a picture from 23 Mar 1945, a fighter conference at Debden. Note there is a fastback model there, despite the fact that the bubbletops had been available for a full year. Another photo I have that will not scan well shows a group of Mustangs in close formation over Germany after he war was over. And there is fastback with those as well. Some pilots just liked them. Of course I can well understand having an affection for a particular serial number aircraft, having flown the same one since 1989. View attachment 542996
This was the meeting for the fighter cover final planning of Operation Varsity next day.The "fastback" models generally were better than the bubble tops when it came to air racing after the war.
To fit the .50's upright they had to thicken the wing a bit.
Attached is a picture from 23 Mar 1945, a fighter conference at Debden. Note there is a fastback model there, despite the fact that the bubbletops had been available for a full year. Another photo I have that will not scan well shows a group of Mustangs in close formation over Germany after he war was over. And there is fastback with those as well. Some pilots just liked them. Of course I can well understand having an affection for a particular serial number aircraft, having flown the same one since 1989. View attachment 542996
It wasn't really up to the pilot's preference, but rather what was made available....And there is fastback with those as well. Some pilots just liked them...
Yes Biff - at that time Lieutenant Colonel Claiborne Holmes Kinnard, Jr. That is the fighter conference the day before the Rhine airborne operation on March 24th. Clay led the first Patrol on the SE flank, dad the second 355th FG mission. No action for the 355th that day.I think the Man O'War plane was flown by Drgondog's Godfather.
Bill?
Cheers,
Biff
Col. Clairborne Kinnard ?
Lt.Col until May 1945. That pick of Claiborne H. Kinnard, Jr. was taken when he was CO of the 4th FG. VIII FC swapped Kinnard for Stewart in mid February and Kinnard talked my father into re-joining him rather than take command of another FG. On the first mission both flew in that command capacity on Mar 1, 1945 to Ingolstadt (6:45) dad was flying Kinnard's wing to lead the Group. Two LtC as lead, wingman was fairly top heavy but Clay's hearing was so bad at the time that he wanted someone he could really trust. Of dad's 12 missions, second tour, he led the Group four times and flew Kinnard's wing four times.
This was the meeting for the fighter cover final planning of Operation Varsity next day.
The wing/airfoil of the X73, Mustang I, IA, P-51, A-36, P-51A/B/C, P-51D/K was the same - save the LE extension for D-K. The XP-51F/G and J and H departed from the NAA/NACA 45-100. The reason for the canted mount go back to the belt fed Hispano and the A-36 had that mount because 20mm was an armament option that AAF chose not to accept. Dunno why the A/B didn't change, but the P-51D was 'vertical' from day 1.The "fastback" models generally were better than the bubble tops when it came to air racing after the war.
To fit the .50's upright they had to thicken the wing a bit.
Attached is a picture from 23 Mar 1945, a fighter conference at Debden. Note there is a fastback model there, despite the fact that the bubbletops had been available for a full year. Another photo I have that will not scan well shows a group of Mustangs in close formation over Germany after he war was over. And there is fastback with those as well. Some pilots just liked them. Of course I can well understand having an affection for a particular serial number aircraft, having flown the same one since 1989. View attachment 542996
Resp:I read that they had to thicken the wing to mount the .50's upright.
And the P-51B/C had the inboard leading extension, which was to allow the larger wheels that accompanied the increase in gross weight.
As for "what was available" do you really think there were no D or K models available in March 1945? They were scrapping new D models in late 1944 because they had no place to park them. Admittedly, that fastback Mustang had no tail color or codes on the side, indicating it was most likely a "hack." But the one in that postwar photo is an operational squadron bird.
And really, a P-36? Did he spend the whole war in Hawaii?
No, but he started the war in Hawaii on 7 December. The types he flew during the war (aside from the P-36) were the P-39 and P-38, the P-38 being the only fighter he saw combat with.And really, a P-36? Did he spend the whole war in Hawaii?