RAF Mustang Mk IA

[MIflyer]

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Good shot!

 

[ColFord]

From my research on the photos (he took two photos of this aircraft), I have copies in my collection provided by Robert Astrella from his originals.

North American Mustang Mk.IA FD474 'K' served with No.268 Squadron RAF from June to September 1944. Photographed here at Mount Farm around March-May 1944 based on the external rear vision mirror and lack of other distinctive markings. Mount Farm was the base for one of the USAAF Photographic Reconnaissance Groups operating in the UK. This aircraft had been on charge with No.168 Squadron RAF from August 1943 until early 1944 when that Squadron converted back to the N.A. Mustang Mk.I. During its time with No.168 Squadron RAF it had been flown regularly by F/O J Colville (one of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's personal staff) who had also served with No.268 Squadron RAF. FD474 is recorded as being flown on operations by No.II (AC) Squadron RAF from early February 1944 to the beginning of June 1944 when it was passed to No.268 Squadron RAF when they started to re-equip with the Mustang Mk.II. In the photo there is evidence of what is potentially repaired metal work on the starboard wingtip, suggested by the lighter colour under the wingtip area and the absence of the yellow wing leading edge identification strip on that part of the wing – the area coinciding with specific panel areas on the wingtip. There is annotation in the No.II (AC) Squadron RAF records around the time when this photo was potentially taken of one of the Squadron's Mustangs wingtips being damaged in a night time taxiing accident where the wingtip hit an unlit obstructionon the perimeter track from the runway to the dispersal area.

 

[Snautzer01]

North American Mustang Mk IA FD474 | World War Photos

Mustang Mk IA FD474

www.worldwarphotos.info

 

[Wurger]

 

[MIflyer]

Great! So now we have two photos of the same aircraft taken at the same time. And the second photo reveals the PR mod you cannot see in the first.

 

[ColFord]

Great! So now we have two photos of the same aircraft taken at the same time. And the second photo reveals the PR mod you cannot see in the first.

..........and the fact that by this stage, the modification to have the capability to have the oblique F.24 reconnaissance camera point out to either side - port or starboard - not just to port, had been introduced. Robert Astrella noted that he only took those two colour photographs of that particular RAF Mustang IA when it visited Mount Farm. At the time there was a fair bit of co-ordination and liaison between the various RAF and USAAF reconnaissance units on the tasking to cover both the V-1 sites in northern France and the planned invasion areas in Normandy. Also the RAF pilots loved the opportunity to officially visit Mount Farm for the chance to visit the US PX there.

 

[MIflyer]

and the fact that by this stage, the modification to have the capability to have the oblique F.24 reconnaissance camera point out to either side - port or starboard - not just to port, had been introduced

Was it the norm for all RAF Mustang MkI/IA/II to have the tac recon cameras fitted? And were the Mk III also so equipped when they arrived?

 

[ColFord]

Was it the norm for all RAF Mustang MkI/IA/II to have the tac recon cameras fitted? And were the Mk III also so equipped when they arrived?

Up until the end of 1942, the intention was to have at least 50% of the Mustang I then in service modified to carry an oblique camera. The limiting factor at that stage was supply of F.24 cameras and associated lenses. Early 1943 that changed to all Mustang I to be modified, but camera only fitted at that time to the aircraft allocated in a pair to do the photography work. Or in cases where aircraft were doing offensive operations, Rhubarbs and Rangers, then aircraft might not normally carry the camera, but have mods to carry it - often even on thses types of sorties on of the pair or section of four might carry a camera to get some good photos of the after effects of a target getting strafed. By mid 1943, all Allison engine Mustangs in RAF service to be modified to carry oblique camera, and improvement in supply of cameras and lenses meant that both aircraft in a pair could carry a camera - so #2 could take over if the lead had an issue with their camera or if additional targets of interest worthy of photography were spotted during a sortie. Mid-1943 also started on the modifications to have the oblique camera be able to point out either side, and then shortly after mod for a pair of oblique cameras mounted slightly offset back to back - one aimed out each side. Added to that was the vertical camera mods, with various percentages of aircraft in a Tac/R Squadron to be modified to be able to carry and use a vertical camera in addition to the oblique. By beginning of 1944 the Mustang I and IA in service all modified for dual obliques and large percentage also had vertical camera mods. By the time the Mustang II entered service just before D-Day, they were basically planned to be delivered with dual oblique and vertical camera mods installed before they went to Squadrons. By early 1945 a number of the Mustang IIs had a five camera rig, two obliques each side and a vertical.

Only a handful of RAF Mustang IIIs received Tac/R or PR camera mods, all used by No.541 Squadron RAF in second half 1944 into early 1945. They basically had a set up for an oblique camera and a single vertical camera, installation 99% based off that in the earlier Allison Mustangs used by the RAF. The great majority of the RAF's Mustang IIIs went to Fighter Command and 2TAF in the ETO, the fighter boys had the priority on them over any possible use as a Tac/R type.

 

[MIflyer]

As to sending two aircraft, the 9th PRS in India found that for heavily defended targets such as Rangoon they needed to send two F-4 or F-5. The reason was that with a "wingman" hanging well back they could spot threats early enough to evade them. Attempts to use armed P-38's as escorts for such targets failed because the recon aircraft was so much faster than the fighters.