P-51 fuselage fuel tank

Reluctant Poster said:

There was a firewall between the pilot and the tanks in front of him. Sitting on a unprotected tank would not be popular

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z42 said:

In any case having big fuel tanks just ahead of the pilot seems extra dangerous, as the slipstream would push flames and burning fuel right into the cockpit.

Though apparently we have this to thank for advances in plastic surgery in the early WWII years. But what a ghastly price..

IMHO, would have been better to put the cockpit as far forward as possible, and instead put fuel below/behind the pilot, or in the wings. Better forward visibility as well. Oh well.

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MiTasol said:

Late war the RAAF removed the IFF from P-51D&K aircraft when the rear fuselage tank was used. By that time the allies had air superiority in the SWPA.

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drgondog said:

This is a great find. The US operated P-51D/K placed IFF fwd of firewall and the carb return line always went to left main.

Many RAF Mustang III were delivered without 85gal tank but I was unclear regarding P-51D/K. Do you know if RAAF received any MK IV or IVa directly from US, or purchased by RAF and then allocated?

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