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

[CATCH 22]

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!

 

[fubar57]

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

 

[CATCH 22]

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

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.

 

[CATCH 22]

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

 

[fubar57]

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

 

[CATCH 22]

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

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...

 

[drgondog]

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.

 

[CATCH 22]

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.

Thank you for your answer!
I started the thread with my question because of the photo below, showing a 150gal. tank on a standard P-51 pylon/rack but with a middle piece or adapter on top of the tank. This is a post WWII configuration and I can't find a detail showing this particular adapter. Do you have any possible explanation? No better photo unfortunately - just a zoom-in from a grainy one.

 

[drgondog]

Thank you for your answer!
I started the thread with my question because of the photo below, showing a 150gal. tank on a standard P-51 pylon/rack but with a middle piece or adapter on top of the tank. This is a post WWII configuration and I can't find a detail showing this particular adapter. Do you have any possible explanation? No better photo unfortunately - just a zoom-in from a grainy one.
View attachment 806861

The fuel feed line is shown - for these Fighter Bomber missions, Nape or 1000 pound bomb was on one pylon and fuel tank on the other for extended range - particularly when the perimeter was down to Pusan and missions were flown from Japan - Their combat radius far exceeded any other piston engined or jet engined aircraft for that mission.

 

[CATCH 22]

 

[MIflyer]

You can tell the napalm tanks that have been based on drop tanks because they usually have an igniter sticking up from the filler port.

 

[CATCH 22]

Coincidentally found this RCAF F-51 with a long range drop tank but from a different type (postwar):

It is clearly visible that the drop tank hangs on a standard pylon but has an adapter/hanger on top of it:

One can clearly see that without this adapter the flap in lower position would be obstructed by the tank.
IMHO something similar was done with the 150 gal tank in the photo in question - see post #8.

 

[SaparotRob]

Just lose the flap.