The CA-21 Mk.25 F-82 Twin Mustang

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The CA-21 Mk.25 F-82 Twin Mustang

 

In 1942 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was looking for a new fighter aircraft. They decided on the P-51 Mustang as their next high altitude interceptor. In late 1943, an agreement between North American Aviation and the RAAF was reached. An Australian aircraft company, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC), would build P-51Ds under license in Australia.

As part of the agreement, NAA would supply 100 P-51D Mustangs unassembled and Packard would supply some 80+ -3 Merlin engines. Delays mounted and the first CAC P-51 did not fly until April 1945. In all, 80 P-51s were completed from these parts and designated CA-17 Mk.20, A68-1 to A68-80.

 

As the war came to an end, the total scratch built CAC P-51s was reduced to 120 aircraft. The CAC new built P-51s were designated CA-18. Versions would be the Mark 21, Mark 22, and Mark 23.

The Merlin V-1650-7 was used in the CA-18 Mk.21 models. The CA-18 Mk.23 use the British built Rolls Royce Merlin 66 or 70 versions. The CA-18 Mk.22 were modified like the F-6D reconnaissance versions. The last CA-18 Mk.23 came off the production line in 1952.

 

As the war drew to a close, so far from Australian soil the RAAF felt the need for a long-range escort fighter for their B-24 Liberator and Lincoln bombers with which they were going to wage the war against Japan. Lawrence Wackett, head designer for CAC, always one step ahead of the RAAF High Command, presented to them the plans for the P-82 Twin Mustang that North American had made available to him on his visit to the United States in late 1944. This appeared to fit their requirements and because of it's commonality with the P-51 which was in production at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, it would be easier to maintain and supply spares for. The major difference between the CA-21 Twin Mustangs and the USAAC P-82 Twin Mustang was the choice of engines. The Australian CA-21s stuck with the original Merlin whereas the F-82s switched, because of the expense of license fees post-war to Allisons. This made the CA-21s slightly faster and higher flying than their American counter-parts.

 

In April 1945 the first P-51Ds entered service with the RAAF. In July, the first CA-21, Mk.25 P-82 Twin Mustang entered service, just before the war with Japan suddenly ended with the dropping of the two Atomic bombs on Japanese cities. In the end, 100 CA-21, Mk.25 P-82 Twin Mustangs were delivered to the RAAF. Sufficient, with spares to equip two squadrons. 82 Squadron was one of the two (the other was 80 Squadron). 82 served in Japan, after the war ended as part of BCOF (British-Commonwealth Occupation Forces), while 80 effectively became it's training squadron, serving in Australia.

 

When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, 82 Squadron, along with 77 Squadron was on the verge of returning to Australia. Committed to the conflict within days of the North Koreans crossing the 38^th Parallel, both squadrons flew successful strike missions. The extended range of the CA-21s allowed them to go far beyond that the of the shorter-ranged 77 Squadron machines, deep into North Korea (and it is rumoured, the PRC). Their utility was quickly realised and by late 1950 the CA-21s were flying interdictor and top-cover missions. When equipped with the central radar pod (the first of which were provided by the USAAC F-82 Squadrons), they were able to alert the surrounding “normal” Mustangs of the approach of North Korean jet fighters.

 

The model depicted is that of an 82 Squadron machine, serving out of Iwakuni, Japan in 1950. It is the only CA-21 which registered a “kill” when it shot down a Yak-9 fighter over Pusan on October 26, 1950, when flown by Flight-Lieutenant Bill McMahon.

 

 

The Model

 

The kit used was a Special Hobby 1/72 F-82 Twin Mustang. The decals came from a post-war RAAF Mustang sheet which featured an 82 Squadron BCOF machine (It actually did exist but had left Japan by the time the Korean business broke out and only flew standard Mustangs). The story of course is complete what-if.