P-51D aerial question

[HGE]

Hey Guys, I've seen D model Mustangs that had the radio aerial exit through the canopy or through the slot behind the canopy.

Because in most pictures one can't normaly see the aerial, I was wondering if there was any way to tell which way it should be?

Thanks, Henry

[Pete Wenman]

Henry hi

Can you be more specific to the era/unit you are talking about, as not all

P-51D's had a wire antenna.

Pretty much all 8th AAF D's had the blade antenna rather than the wire

to tail (it was to do with the radio set used).

Others will know more

HTH

Pete

[Dr Fester]

Pretty much all 8th AAF D's had the blade antenna rather than the wire

to tail (it was to do with the radio set used).

Nuts, just drilled my canopy on 'Short Fuse Sallee' :lol: My build is slowly turning into the most inaccurate model of a P-51D EVER

Doc

[jrallman]

i think that if they did have the arial to the tail, it went from the back of the seat through the canopy, but like you said, it is difficult to tell for sure from most of the pics.

doc, i did the same thing with my 8th AF mustang. oh well, looks cool anyways!

[Cadfael]

Mustangs in the ETO (UK and NW Europe) did not have the wire antenna fitted, only those aircraft in the Med (and Pacific to I believe). However, many ETO canopies did have either the fairing for the roller bearing installed or the hole covered by an oval tranparent plate.

[HGE]

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0693...ev_id=&next_id=

I was asking because I came across some pictures on Airliners.net that show this. The box art on Hasegawa's " Jumpin Jacques" shows both the mast antenna and the wire aerial. Is this correct?

Thanks, Henry

[Cadfael]

Remember that the Mustang in the pic is a restored warbird. It will have a modern radio with different antenna requirements than those carried during the war. It also has the vent panel (it's typical on both sides) aft of the wing that appeared post-war.

[Edgar]

I have Richard E. Turner's book "Mustang Pilot," which has a photo, of AJ-T, with 14 kill markings, after D-Day, on Strip A-2. It has no aerial wire.

Edgar

[Pete Wenman]

Henry hi

I've got a couple of scratchy photos of Jumpin Jacques (in the Aircam book) and they show the blade antenna, no wire, but do also seem to show a whip antenna just to the rear of the blade antenna.

HTH

Pete

[HGE]

Thanks Pete! Really? A whip antenna? Could you possible scan the pic for me?

[Pete Wenman]

Henry hi

Found this photo

This aircraft also served in the 5th AF POA, as did JJ, and shows the whip

more clearly

HTH

Pete

Edited April 20, 2006 by Pete Wenman

[HGE]

Thanks Pete!!! It seems that it might also have a wire aerial.. Look at the Horz..stab.. looks like something's coming off there? Edited April 20, 2006 by HGE

[Pete Wenman]

Yep that plane does seem to have a wire antenna - well spotted.

However here's the scan of JJ enlarged, and I don't think

a wire is present here. But its not the clearest of photo's

HTH

Pete

[Chuck1945]

Both photos seem to show the insulator lead-in to the tail fin. It is rather clear in the first photo, but I think it is here on JJ too.

[Edgar]

I think that you'll find that it's a question of range; the better-quality sets, used in Europe, had a shorter range, but long range was vital in the vast area of the Pacific, so the earlier sets were still used.

Edgar