SteveBrooking

Hi Pappy There seems to be some problems with nomenclature here and crossover between types... the P-51B/C was Mustang III in the RAF your image shows a Mustang III all Mustang III delivered to RAF in MTO were actually P-51C. The parts catalogue TO 01-60JD-4 shows that the P-51B/C were fitted with gunsight N3C. So far there are no photos of Mustang III fitted with K-14 sight in MTO. Steve

Hi FZ179 served with 65Sqn. I believe the serial digits are recorded incorrectly they should read "197/C" and the aircraft is FB197. Steve

Sorry Bob neither of those serials appear in his appendix.

Hi I've checked the Listemann appendix and sorry to say AA924 is not listed.

No KH695 would be Aeroproducts. I can't read the serial for YTF but if it is KH685 then that would have Aeroproducts prop as well. I was not paying proper attention earlier. There is no photographic evidence that 65Sqn had the white type identity markings on their MkIVs. YTE has a Sky spinner and no white band around nose. There is an IWM photo from April 45 that shows Sky spinners. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205383968

Hi Both aircraft were repainted in UK so British/MAP paints. I've not seen any photo evidence for red spinner and white nose band on YTF. SB

Can someone help me here? I typed the message above off board. When I pasted the post onto the board the hyperlinks disappeared. Searching on the lines marked with an asterisk does not work. I do not seem to be able to copy the hyperlinks into the post?

There were only 50 Mustang II assigned to the RAF and there seem to be very few photos. There is a thread here on RAF Commands that adds some confirmation that FR919 carried the code ‘N’. http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=FR919 In my view the various bits of artwork that come up when you search for FR919/N do not depict a Mustang II. I think Chris is correct in suggesting the artwork is probably based on the photo he describes from the original 2TAF history. That photo can be seen here. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205211643 The IWM caption for this photo is not correct. The aircraft is Mustang I AG424 from 430(RCAF)Sqn. One of the key identifiers for a Mustang II is the position of the fuselage roundel which was much further forward, closer to the cockpit than seen in the photo of AG424/N from the IWM. This photo shows an AAF P-51A with the US insignia in this forward position. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang_variants#/media/File:North_American_P-51A_061023-F-1234P-011.jpg It seems the positioning of the insignia resulted from the US requirement for the aircraft Call Number to be painted on the rear fuselage in large yellow characters 10x6.5 inches. This is illustrated in this image of the first P-51B prototype. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/5-may-1943/ On the 50 Mustang II assigned to the RAF the British insignia was applied in the same (forward) position. https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWings/comments/z7gtee/raf_mustang_ii_p51a_fitted_with_streamlined/

Hi Max It's an exit vent to improve the cooling of the cockpit and especially the radios. The radios are on shelves above the radiator the position of this vent was intended to draw air through the position of the radios. It was a British modification seen on Mk 1s as far as I know not usually seen on MkIAs. Steve

This aircraft is FB382 Horbaczewski only flew a handful of missions on this aircraft. It may have flown in the pure fighter role (as you say). During the run up to D-day and during the invasion/breakout period all RAF Mustangs flew with bombs most of the time. But if a squadron put up 12 aircraft for an operation quite often they had 8 aircraft with bombs and 4 aircraft without bombs as a kind of escort/top cover. You would need to check the squadron ORB to to see if it provides the detail about Horbczewski/FB382. Steve

I believe it is KH794...

Sorry to mislead... Geoffrey is correct... too much rushing and not enough checking...

Hi Supplementing Geoffrey's response. When production of the NA-111 model began at Dallas the first 200 a/c 44-11153 to 44-11352 were P-51D-5 fitted with the HS prop. Of these just 30 were assigned to the RAF 44-11168 to 11187 (KH641-660) and 44-11253 to 44-11262 (KH661-KH670). Some of these were delivered to UK and some were delivered direct from US to the MTO. The louvred plates were only fitted to a/c prepared in the UK so your best chances of a camouflaged MkIV with HS prop and perforated plate would be in photos of MTO a/c most likely 3RAAF and 5SAAFSqns. … this is close to hen’s teeth territory. Steve

If you go to this sticky thread on "12 o'clock high" RAF and RAAF pilot's Log Books on the net - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum (12oclockhigh.net) The guy "JohnE" just might, I say just might be able to help you... Steve

I think they are likely to be Communication Flight/Squadron; then Flying Training Command; Bomber Command and Air Navigation School.... hope so! Steve