P-51 with 150gal drop tanks

[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.