Some 7th AF documentation of fighter escort for B29's over Japan.

[syscom3]

Some 7th AF documentation of fighter escort for B29's over Japan.

 

[Tkdog]

Speed for the p-51H seems...optimistic.

 

[Dana Bell]

Nice finds! Are you working out of the Maxwell microfilms or RG18 at the Archives?

Cheers,


Dana

 

[syscom3]

Nice finds! Are you working out of the Maxwell microfilms or RG18 at the Archives?

Cheers,


Dana

No. I just saw them.

 

[pinehilljoe]

Wings/Airpower did a very good article in January 1977. I found my copy. Sentry Publications Copyright. If I'm violating the forum protocol by posting two pages, would one of the moderators please delete. It was a long article, if it is ok, I'll post the remainder.

 

[Mike Williams]

Wings/Airpower did a very good article in January 1977. I found my copy. Siting Sentry Publications Copyright. If I'm violating the forum protocol by posting two pages, would one of the moderators please delete. It was a long article, if it is ok, I'll post the remainder.

Please share the balance if that's ok? I've seen a similar article in (Flight Journal, Ridgefield CT, Summer 2002) by Barrett Tillman, Mustangs of Iwo Jima

 

[Mike Williams]

I found 7th Fighter Command History by Major James B. Tapp to be interesting. Especially this passage: "The Command had begun using the 115/145 Octane leaded gasoline." Unfortunately, I never found the time to dig deeper into that topic.

 

[Mike Williams]

It's nice to see something on this board regarding the Iwo Jima based Mustangs. Here's a mission report from the 47th Squadron to add to the story that might be of interest to some folks:

 

[Mike Williams]

I thought this downing of a Tony by rockets fired from a Mustang was surprising and interesting.

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Mike. I love reading mission reports. Its a shame that a lot of them, USAAF/RAF aren't available online as a lot more research could be done

 

[Mike Williams]

Thanks Mike. I love reading mission reports.

Great, here's another mission report, this time from the 78th fighter squadron flying out of Iwo Jima. There are some brief aircraft performance comparisons described in this report.

 

[fubar57]

Must have had a "white-out" shortage on Iwo

 

[Mike Williams]

The following Encounter Report of an Iwo Jima based P-51 pilot is of interest because it mentions combat tactics of both sides as well as aircraft comparisons. The Mustang pilots frequently mention employing "mutual support" in these reports. Scissoring is often used as a tactic. Of note is the pilot stating "I didn't have any trouble turning with, or out turning the Franks or Georges at any speed over 300".

 

[Mike Williams]

After reading through some Encounter Reports and Mission Reports of Iwo Jima based Mustangs, I became curious as to how the competing aircraft compared. Attached please find some performance charts comparing basic performance of some of the principal contenders. The TAIC data sets leave something to be desired, however, they are readily at hand and will have to suffice for this exercise. I'm leaving off the Zekes and Oscars for now as they were largely embarrassed by the Mustangs. The Georges, Franks and Jacks certainly look competitive on paper to me. It appears in practice, however, that the Mustangs somehow seemed to get the better of it.

 

[BiffF15]

A couple of interesting thoughts. Japan's fighters had good performance however they were as Germany was, at a point of diminishing returns on pilot quality and production. As with Germany, you get great performance out of a "light" fighter with a big motor however it has no legs. Those long legs aren't needed when you are fighting over your flag vice your enemies. Another curious point is the legs on the Mustang allowed carrying rockets all that distance (high drag items) and still fight for a bit then fly home. Does anyone know if the USN was supplying any type of GCI to either their folks or the USAAF?

Cheers,
Biff

 

[Peter Gunn]

It's nice to see something on this board regarding the Iwo Jima based Mustangs. Here's a mission report from the 47th Squadron to add to the story that might be of interest to some folks:
View attachment 598879View attachment 598880View attachment 598881View attachment 598882

Agreed, the Iwo Mustangs are a bit overlooked in the grand scheme of WWII. Here is a pretty decent site for some of them though: 506th Fighter Group Home: 506th Fighter Group, 457 Fighter Squadron, 458 Fighter Squadron, 462 Fighter Squadron Iwo To Japan

 

[Mike Williams]

Agreed, the Iwo Mustangs are a bit overlooked in the grand scheme of WWII. Here is a pretty decent site for some of them though: 506th Fighter Group Home: 506th Fighter Group, 457 Fighter Squadron, 458 Fighter Squadron, 462 Fighter Squadron Iwo To Japan

Nice, thanks for the link!

 

[DarrenW]

Does anyone know if the USN was supplying any type of GCI to either their folks or the USAAF?

From the action reports I've read, US Naval squadrons were basically on there own once they arrived over the main islands. The various Fleet CGI radars had ranges of up to 30 miles so they was of little use once the pilots made it further inland. I have heard of airborne early warning radar sets carried by Avengers which had a detection range of up to 100 miles, but I know little about it's actual wartime application. This was basically the beginning of the AWACS concept.

 

[Jeffrey Ethell Collection]

"Zekes within a 15km radius of Osaka"

Could be Zeros belonging to No. 332 kokutai flying out of Naruo airfield north east of OSAKA city on Osaka bay.

Note all the 332 ku Zeros minus props lined up at bottom right. Japanese air forces were still very potent force even by the time of the surrender when this photo was taken. The only problem was they could not sustain heavy losses as the B-29 raids had all but wiped out the A/C manufacturing plants.

James

 

[fubar57]

Found an article (in Japanese) that says the aircraft on the field are,"....The fighter planes are the Zero Fighter Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Zero-sen: 1939), Mitsubishi Raiden (Raiden: 1942), Shiden Kai (Siden-Kai: 1942), Comet Yokosuka (Suisei), and Kyu Yokosuka. Type 3 Intermediate Training Machine Akatomb..."