P-51 with 150gal drop tanks (1 Viewer)

• Nov 13, 2024

• #1

CATCH 22

Staff Sergeant

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Sep 15, 2006

Canada

Does anybody have a good photo resp. schematics of a P-51 with a 150gal. (P-38 type) drop tank?

As per the above photo.
I'm looking more for the type of the rack(pylon) resp. rack + additional middle piece to be used with standard P-51 racks.
Thanks in advance!

 

• Nov 13, 2024

• #2

fubar57

General

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Nov 22, 2009

The Jungles of Canada

Nothing here Yves but a crap load of manuals you may be interested in..... US Air Force

 

• Nov 13, 2024

• Thread starter
• #3

CATCH 22

Staff Sergeant

1,308

2,336

Sep 15, 2006

Canada

fubar57 said:

Nothing here Yves but a crap load of manuals you may be interested in..... US Air Force

Click to expand...

Thanks George! Checked some of the documents - they are from more modern times (60s). Still very informative!
BTW the 150gal tanks (same as on P-38) were used on P-61 and on F-82, but the pylons were different from those on P or F-51.

 

Last edited: Nov 13, 2024

• Thursday at 1:37 PM

• Thread starter
• #4

CATCH 22

Staff Sergeant

1,308

2,336

Sep 15, 2006

Canada

Found this photo of a F-51 with 2 different drop-tanks. IMHO both tanks hang on standard P-51 pylons:

 

• Thursday at 2:03 PM

• #5

fubar57

General

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Nov 22, 2009

The Jungles of Canada

Nice Yves. I couldn't find anything clearer. The tank on the left is napalm but not always coloured yellow

 

• Thursday at 2:53 PM

• Thread starter
• #6

CATCH 22

Staff Sergeant

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2,336

Sep 15, 2006

Canada

fubar57 said:

Nice Yves. I couldn't find anything clearer. The tank on the left is napalm but not always coloured yellow

Click to expand...

Yep, I see it now - it has a fuse or something else coming out of the filler cap. And no fuel/pressure lines.
I was looking at the big tank only...

 

• Today at 5:05 AM

• #7

drgondog

Major

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Jun 28, 2006

Scurry, Texas

The 150/165 gal tank was only used in Pacific, then later in Korea on the P-51D. As shown above, it was a napalm mission with the steel 110 on left wing. Standard D rack, no change. Although the actual rack release/attach mechanisms varied, they were essentially B-10 compatible. 14" on-center.