RAF Mustang mods for V-1 interception

Mike Williams said:

The RAE's Technical Note No.Aero.1501(Flight) on Improvement of Performance of Fighter Aircraft Operating Against the German Flying Bomb dated August 1944 describes improvements and results for the Mustang III:

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I don't know to what extent these improvements were adopted by operational squadrons.

Also, ADGB decided to retard the ignition timing on the Mustang III's V-1650-7 engine. (ADGB/S.36777/Eng.4.).

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drgondog said:

Hi Mike - I believe the enhancement's order were mistaken. The cumultive effect of Mustang III/P-51B bomb rack removal should be 12mph, enhanced finish 8mph. The latter seems high as more than a few experiments to refnish/polish airframe and wings seldom achieved more than a couple of mph reduction. to achieve even 8mph ponts to a REALLY ratty Mustang III. That said FX 858 had a lot of miles on her by August 1944.

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Mike Williams said:

Hi Bill,

Maybe, the RAE report did note the separate effects of improved finish and rack & aerial backet removal were estimated. Of interest, the P-51 Tactical Planning Characteristics & Performance Chart notes that the P-51B & C racks decrease high speed 12 mph, while the new type P-51D racks decrease high speed by 4 mph. Presumably the P-51B could be fitted with the new type racks? It's unknown to me what type of racks Mustang III FB.377 was fitted with when tested.

The RAE report also noted that Mustang III FB.377 was received from an operational squadron, and that "the paintwork was in very bad condition. The paint on the leading edge and inboard surfaces of the wings was badly chipped. This is most serious in the case of the Mustang due to the thickness of the paint layer. As least six separate coats of paint had been applied."

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BarnOwlLover said:

There is a pic on IWM's site where a RAF P-51B/Mustang III was carrying a 1000 lb bomb under each wing per caption, though I doubt that description is accurate given what you've just posted, as well as maybe size of the bomb. Did the RAF do things differently, or was the caption in error?

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BarnOwlLover said:

There is a pic on IWM's site where a RAF P-51B/Mustang III was carrying a 1000 lb bomb under each wing per caption, though I doubt that description is accurate given what you've just posted, as well as maybe size of the bomb. Did the RAF do things differently, or was the caption in error?

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Mike Williams said:

I'm all for air support to ground troops, but it strikes me that strapping bombs to a Mustang that can fly 400+ mph at low level seems a waste of an aircraft's potential.

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