Edgar Schmued, chief designer of the P-51 Mustang ...

[Mark Allen M]

Perhaps the Mustang fans may enjoy the reading & photos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Schmued

Sources:
Text - North American Aviation Retirees Bulletin Fall 2015
Photos SDASM archives

[ZRX61]

Pete Regina gave him his first P51 ride.

[JohnTerrell]

Yes, back in 1981, Schmued finally got a Mustang ride, flying in the backseat of Pete Regina's P-51C out of Chino for a Mustang event, and they did some formation flying with the POF P-51A and a P-51D.

[Saville]

While the 102-120 day achievement is exceptionally good, it's not like they started from zero and had a flying airplane.

If you read "Mustang Designer: Edgar Schmued and the P-51" by Ray Wagner, you'll see that a lot of thought and work went into designing a superior fighter before that 100 day clock started.

I quote, as an examples:

" I made many sketches without knowing what it might end up as, but when the time came, I was ready" - Edgar Schmued

" As far back as 1934-35, Ed was designing the various installations that later would be found in NAA aircraft - particularly the P-51. He had layouts of the 'ideal' cockpit, engine and gun installations, etc. that were lacking only a wing, fuselage and tail to make a new airplane. Once the performance requirements were known, Ed needed only a few days to evolve a new 3-view" - Richard Schleicher - chief structures engineer."

Again I don't wish to minimize the tremendous achievement of the NAA team and Schmued in particular. But it's a good lesson to learn: prepare for the future even if you don't know what that may be.

Be ready.

[Kyleb]

While the 102-120 day achievement is exceptionally good, it's not like they started from zero and had a flying airplane.

I've seen the same information, but even if you had a set of prints in your hands, going from paper to a complete new airframe in 3.5-4 months is an amazing feat.

[marine air]

Thank you for posting. It is quite interesting.

[DH82EH]

Agreed.
Very interesting article.
I remember the issue of Air Comics reporting on Pete Regina giving Edgar his first Mustang ride.
Shangri-La was such a fantastic color scheme on a great looking aircraft.

[Richard W.]

I did enjoy this. Thanks

In the last paragraph, he compares the kill to loss ratios of three a/c. Which other two fighters, besides the P-51, are being described?

[Kyleb]

I did enjoy this. Thanks

In the last paragraph, he compares the kill to loss ratios of three a/c. Which other two fighters, besides the P-51, are being described?

Based on the cost information, i'd bet P-47 and P-38. The kill stats are a little "bent" based on when the P-51 appeared in combat in large numbers, which was after the Luftwaffe had been knocked back a few notches.

[Adam Kline]

I had read somewhere, that the there were 500 P-51's in the European theater of operations in 1944 and something like 1200 P-47s. Yet the P-51 because of it's long range was getting to most of the action where as the P-47s were left with what ever they could find in the way of targets. Not much until moving to the continent. That allowed groups like the 4th(with P-51s)to catch up and pass the 56th (P-47).

[Saville]

I had read somewhere, that the there were 500 P-51's in the European theater of operations in 1944 and something like 1200 P-47s. Yet the P-51 because of it's long range was getting to most of the action where as the P-47s were left with what ever they could find in the way of targets. Not much until moving to the continent. That allowed groups like the 4th(with P-51s)to catch up and pass the 56th (P-47).

It's a little difficult to assess effects of allied fighters on the Luftwaffe. IIRC the early bombing missions were not deep penetration so the P-47 would be there.

On the other hand, the Luftwaffe only defended high value targets - and to make matters worse what was considered high value changed as the war progressed. Obviously, for guys like Robert Johnson to rack up 27 kills starting in April, 1943, the P-47 had to be seeing fighter opposition.

And then of course the P-38 had something to say about Luftwaffe losses.

It would be interesting to see a graph of Luftwaffe fighter losses to US fighters starting from 1942 through the end of the war - color coded for allied fighter type.

[Adam Kline]

Mark, can you fix the images? They seemed to have disappeared in the first post.

[RyanShort1]

While the 102-120 day achievement is exceptionally good, it's not like they started from zero and had a flying airplane.

But they had a lot less depth to draw from than say Lockheed or Boeing today!

[bdk]

While the 102-120 day achievement is exceptionally good, it's not like they started from zero and had a flying airplane.

But they had a lot less depth to draw from than say Lockheed or Boeing today!

And a lot less bureaucracy, both corporate and government.

[Adam Kline]

I found the missing article https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56c78acd0442626b2590f5ea/t/59058cec197aeab0a1edf578/1493536005718/2015-3_Fall.pdf But it won't load. Sorry for my lack of computer skills