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P-51D Mustang Question


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Hello all,

I'm building a P-51D, 364th squadron, serial 44-72164, C5-R "Shilleilagh" of J. Storch.

Question 1 : would it have metal or fabric elevators, I'm reading all P-51D's after february 45 had metals. C5-R was a late Mustang, but late enough to have metals? I think 364FS got their P-51D's around august-october 44?

Question 2 : I found a drawing of the aircraft, having a APS-13 tail warning radar, is this correct? What factor determined which P-51D got that radar?

Question 3 : any more pictures that google does not offer are welcome! (I only find a bare metal Shilleilagh, but maybe there were invasion stripes at some point...)

many thanks

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I have no time to look for photos but the answer to both 1 and 2 is yes.

It had metallic elevators and the APS-13 was installed at the factory starting with 44-72127.

However you should look at photos in order to check for the APS-13, getting it at the factory doesn't mean it always stayed there in the field.

Some earlier aircrafts were also retrofitted with them (just like the elevators).

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Can't help directly, but here's a little bit of inspiration for you - Leiston airfield (Yoxford is a nearby town, but not the name of the airfield) as it was a couple of years ago. It's a holiday caravan (trailer) park. No I wasn't staying there, this was a "drive-by".

IMG_1601.jpg

IMG_1599.jpg

IMG_1598.jpg

Hope this is of interest.

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Hello all,

I'm building a P-51D, 364th squadron, serial 44-72164, C5-R "Shilleilagh" of J. Storch.

Question 1 : would it have metal or fabric elevators, I'm reading all P-51D's after february 45 had metals. C5-R was a late Mustang, but late enough to have metals? I think 364FS got their P-51D's around august-october 44?

Question 2 : I found a drawing of the aircraft, having a APS-13 tail warning radar, is this correct? What factor determined which P-51D got that radar?

Question 3 : any more pictures that google does not offer are welcome! (I only find a bare metal Shilleilagh, but maybe there were invasion stripes at some point...)

many thanks

A good site for you to look things up:

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/

http://www.cebudanderson.com/

I'll try to give you some input on what I can advise you on:

APS-13 Tail warning radar: Just like today, self defense equipment is constantly beeing developed and installed even in early models of a perticular fighter. In the case of the APS-13, it was installed late in the war in most fighers, but like already said, not all. Late model P-51D/K's came with it from the factory, but pictures exist showing it retrofited to P-51B/C's aswell.

The 357FG wich the 364FS was part of was the first P-51B/C/D Mustang group in Europe during WW2. They arrived with P-51B/C's in October 1943, receiving the first P-51D's around May/June 1944. I do think however that serials 44-72xxx started arriving around the time you mention, but this is for others to verify or contradict.

Bare metal/silver started arriving around the same time as the P-51D, firstly because air superiority was beginning to be achieved by the allies, but also because it eased the work load at the factory and a bunch of other reasons. Many P-51D's were however repainted in the UK and in the field with various camouflage schemes, usually Olive Drab over Grey.

The 357FG had atleast 3 schemes:

1) Olive Drab top with bare metal/silver lower areas

2) Olive Drab top with grey undersides

3) Bare metal/silver overall -> applies to your choice.

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