A-36 Apache

[Mark Nankivil]

And a few A-36 Apache/Invader images for you as well Martin...

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Is this an A-36 or a Mustang I? My gut feeling is Mustang I due to the chin fairing for the gun barrel...

[Swiss Mustangs]

Mark...

that's a great selection ! thanks a lot !

1st pic is a NAA factory shot that shows AG348, RAF Mustang I (c/n 73-3102) that later was supplied to Russia - AG348 was the last Mustang with the short nose intake. There were problems with induction during high-angles of attack. NAA extended the nose intake right up to the spinner. AG348 also was the end of any hand-tooled parts. The production line was in business.

2nd photo shows A-36A's 42-83707 (c/n 97-15925 - wrecked in landing accident at Hunter AAF, GA, 13th Jauary 1943); 42-83716 (c/n 97-15934 - to RFC at Cincinatti 6th January 1945) and 42-83715 (c/n 97-15933 - to CL-26 at Harding AAF, LA, 9th November 1943)

3rd through 6th photo are NAA factory shots of 42-83663 (c/n 97-15881 - the fist prducton A-36A, codemned salvage on 28th Octobr 1944)


below a photo of AG348 in Russian colors... not that he nose-intake has been brough to standard



Cordialy
Martin

[mike furline]

What are the differences between the P-51A, A-36 & British Mk 1's, besides the obvious dive brakes?


Regards,
Mike

[Mark Nankivil]

Thanks Martin for the additional information - I'll add that to the archives. Thanks too for the Mustang I info, I was not aware they had gone to Russia either. Any other Mustang types make it to Russia as well?

Enjoy the Day! Mark

[Swiss Mustangs]

up to ten former RAF Mustang I's were supplied to Russia under lend-lease, but never used operationally there.... a number of later versions ended up in Russa, too - mostly left-overs from those shuttle-mission, with a few emergency-landings, too... on the Mustangs forum there was a tread where I provided the known serials...:

Okay - as for the aircraft that landed / crashlanded behind Russian lines; here are some aircraft that are known to have ended up on Russian territory - I didn't include those where the pilot bailed out, i.e. where the aircraft was destroyed:

(Dates given DD/MM/YYYY)

44-13399 P-51D-5-NA 4th FG 335th FS WD-O, damaged 21.06.1944 during "Frantic" mission wit Lt. James W. Russell, Jr.; salvaged in Russia - date given as 04.07.1944 (left behind)

43-6721 P-51B-5-NA 357th FG 362nd FS G4-W; lost 08.08.1944 crashlanding; flown on shuttle mission "Frantic V" by 1/Lt. Howard B. Egeland; crashlanded in Russia (pilot ok)

44-14086 P-51D-10-NA 339th FG 505th FS "Angel of Mercy" 6N-D; lost 12.03.1945 with Lt. Richard C. O'Brien RET MACR #13417, crashlanding in Russia; personal a/c of Maj. Archie A. Tower

44-13440 P-51D-5-NA 325th FG 217th FS "Ball's Out II" 30, lost 14.03.1945 in forced landing in Russia, a/c assigned to and lost with Lt. Walter R. Hinton - a/c given as salvaged 02.09.1945 !

44-14314 P-51D-10-NA 355th FG 357th FS "Sexless Stella / One More Time" OS-L, lost 15.03.1945, MIA; a/c assigned to and lost with Lt. Jack H. Dressler - Evader via Russia

44-63183 P-51D-20-NA 78th FG 82nd FS "Cutie II" MX-Y, lost 17.03.1945; a/c assigned to and lost with Lt. Paul H. Stearns - EVD

44-15137 P-51D-15-NA 353rd FG 350th FS "Baby Duck" LH-R; lost 18.03.1945, MIA (Russian La-5's) a/c assigned to Capt. Herbert G. Kolb; a/c lost with 2/Lt. Garnet D. Page (RET) MACR #13414

44-72233 P-51D-20-NA 78th FG 82nd FS "Cutie" MX-D; lost 21.03.1945 MIA (flak) a/c assg. to/lost with Maj. Richard E. Conner - hit by flak at L?nnewitz; bellied-in behind Russian lines.

44-14852 P-51D-10-NA 78th FG 83rd FS "Lottie" HL-F, lost 26.03.1945 with Lt. Andrew R. Innocenzi, landing accident in Russia - reported as Reclaimed / reduced to components 19.11.1947 !

44-63512 P-51D-20-NA 325th FG 318th FS "ShuShu / Chuck O" 66; lost 02.04.1945, crashed Russia; a/c assigned to Maj. Norman Leroy McDonald

43-24784 P-51B-15-NA 325th FG 318th FS "Charlotte" A58, lost 02.04.1945; a/c assigned to and lost with 1/Lt. Henry E. Southern - MIA MACR #13642

Martin

[Mark Nankivil]

Interesting - thanks for the info. I kind of thought they were "left overs" and not what I'll call normal Lend-Lease supplies like the A-20, P-39s, P-63s and the like.

More Mustangs coming your way shortly....

Enjoy the Day! Mark