drgondog
Major
Joe - The P-51A/Mustang II was a much better performer than the Mustang I, IA, P-51, A-36. Without WI the P-51A-10 would climb (3800-4100fpm max ROC) with both a light P-38G/H and stay with P-38J with higher rated engines in climb - but tapered as critical altitude was attained.Why? The F-5 (P-38) fulfilled the role quite well and was the mainstay in the PTO until the F-6 came along. The F-5 was faster than the P-51A and had twice the range.
It (P-51A) at MP out ran all P-38s under 10K by a significant margin. The P-38G/H/J was slightly faster at 22K, then the 38 was always faster than P-51A..
Don't know about Combat radius but would give nod to -38J/F-5E with LE tanks by considerable margin. But P-51A on 184 gal internal and 75gal combat tanks was probably slightly better than all P-38s with 150gal combat tanks, preceding the J-15 with LE tanks, as the P-51A never got the fuselage fuel tank. Recall that the Allison V-1710-81 (P-51A) had much more power than V-1710F-10 (-51/-55) of F-5A in the G/GF line. The late H through P-38J and Subsequent, were F-5E/F/G with largely V-1710F-17 (=-89/-91) were finally slightly more HP than P-51A with 1710-81 with WI,
Spitfireperformance (thanks Mike) has enough flight test data to make the same observations. Note that neither the F4 or F20 comparisons of Mustang II are tested with WI.
A point of comparison - the P-51A with W/I was running 1500+Hp on the deck at WEP (1300 at MP) and would outrun and outclimb the P-51B at low altitudes until the Merlin 1650-7 was fed 150 octane at 75" Hg. The P-51A never got the improved aileron throw so the Merlin Mustang always outrolled the A. The Allison Mustangs out turned both the Merlin Mustang and the P-38. Only with boosted ailerons did theP-38J/L out roll the Mustang - once it got going.
Except for high altitude recon the Allison Mustangs were very well suited for all tactical recon. The F-4/F-5 were always better for high altitude recon over P-51 and P-51A - but that accounted for much less tasking in Pacific than ETO. Even in MTO/ETO, the primary balance of recon was tactical in nature with the Recon groups. Both 67 and 68 TRG moved to mustang airframes in 1943, Ditto 10 TRG. 363rd FG equipped early with P-51B converted to F-6 post D-Day. Only the 7th PRG at Mount Farm, maintained some P-38 for recon throughout. Note - didn't check MTO or 9th AFvery closely