Upper canopy clamshell panel Mustang IA?

[peevers]

Is it possible that this part belonged to a Mustang IA?
The part is found some miles from the airfield.
Are the (part?) numbers referring to this type?

 

[waroff]

73-31878 : frame assembly cockpit enclosure exit hatch side panel upper right
73-31829 : panel assembly, exit hatch upper (clamshell as you wrote)
these parts are common on P51, A36, P51A, B & C

 

[ColFord]

Is it possible that this part belonged to a Mustang IA?
The part is found some miles from the airfield.
Are the (part?) numbers referring to this type?

Components could certainly be from a Mustang Mk.I, P-51/Mustang Mk.IA, P-51A/Mustang Mk.II or a P-51B/C.

I am not sure that these components are from F/O Parfitt's Mustang Mk.IA of No.268 Squadron RAF as his aircraft was lost during an accident on take-off. Crash occurred fully within the confines of the airfield and the canopy was not jettisoned. Aircraft wreckage was recovered by an RSU and taken away to be reduced to components/spares.

Is there more precise information on where these canopy components were found that you are able to share that might help narrow down which aircraft these possibly came from?

Regards.

 

[peevers]

Thanks Colford and waroff

The part is found at a terrain which was used as a huge scrapyard at the end of the war.
There were no other Mustang Mk.I, P-51/Mustang Mk.IA, P-51A/Mustang Mk.II or a P-51B/C crashes or losses in that area.
Do you have more information about F/O Parfitt's / Mustang?

Regards

 

[ColFord]

F/O Parfitt's Mustang Mk.IA, FD481 Squadron ID letter 'C' at the time, had only returned to the Squadron on 15 March 1945 after being away at 412RSU for repairs since 1 March 1945. At the time there were strong persistent cross winds at B89 Mill for a number of days which had grounded the other Squadrons in No.35 (Recce) Wing based there flying Spitfire FR.XIVes, so No.268 Squadron with their Mustang Mk.IA and Mk.II aircraft were flying all the operational Tac/R sorties. F/O Parfitt's Mustang was reportedly caught by a particularly strong gust of wind on takeoff causing it to crash.

If the scrapyard was used by an Allied aircraft repair and salvage unit, then the canopy could have come from any early Mustang that had been through them for repairs for accident or battle damage that involved the canopy. So it would not neccessarily have to come from a crashed aircraft.

Regards,

 

[Navalwarrior]

Speaking of Allison engined Mustangs, in photos of the last variant, some of these Mustangs have what appears to be an openable small panel in the Left front canopy window (part of the windscreen). I have only seen photos of P-51A & F6B Mustangs (am assuming MKIIs also) so fitted. Thoughts, comments?

 

[ColFord]

To quote from the Pilot's Manual for the P-51A/Mustang Mk.II:

"b. CLEAR VISION PANEL - To assure the pilot of better vision while flying in rain, sleet, or snow, a clear vision panel is incorporated in the left panel of the windshield. A negative pressure area at this point allows the panel to be opened without the elements entering the cockpit."

Regards.

 

[Navalwarrior]

To quote from the Pilot's Manual for the P-51A/Mustang Mk.II:

"b. CLEAR VISION PANEL - To assure the pilot of better vision while flying in rain, sleet, or snow, a clear vision panel is incorporated in the left panel of the windshield. A negative pressure area at this point allows the panel to be opened without the elements entering the cockpit."

Regards.

Con't.
Of the surviving Allison engined Mustangs, none of them that I have seen have this left panel. It is likely that it was much easier to just make, cut and install a single piece of plexiglass during the re-builds.

 

[peevers]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm afraid we will never know if the part belonged to FD481 :0(

Regards

 

[Navalwarrior]

To quote from the Pilot's Manual for the P-51A/Mustang Mk.II:

"b. CLEAR VISION PANEL - To assure the pilot of better vision while flying in rain, sleet, or snow, a clear vision panel is incorporated in the left panel of the windshield. A negative pressure area at this point allows the panel to be opened without the elements entering the cockpit."

Regards.

Con't:
It appears that some of the late 'tac' A-36As also were produced with the CLEAR VISION PANEL, which makes sense since the P-51A soon joined the A-36A on the production line at NAA.