North American P-51A "Small Window" ...

[Mark Allen M]

Never noticed it! Looks like some had it and others didn't.


WAFs (Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron) who ferry North American P-51’s and other types of airplanes from factory to airbases. Barbara Jane Erickson, in cockpit, and Evelyn Sharp, both of Seattle, Washington with a P-51A. Photographed in late 1942 or early 1943.


P-51A


Doesn't look like any have it in this group.


P-51A without the window


P-51A with the window.


Mustang Mk I AG348 on the Inglewood ramp without the window.


P-51A 43-6165 Ruth (F-6, 67th FRG, 107th TRS) shot down by AAA 8 mi W of Cologne, Germany Sep 10, 1944.

[junkman9096]

I think you'll find it was confined to the P-51A (no machine guns in nose, 2 .50 cal machine guns in each wing) variant. The F-6B (recon)-your last photo-was a modification of the P-51A. The other Allison engined versions, the P-51 (no suffix) and A-36 did not have it.

[k5083]

Did the front panel of the left opening part of the canopy not slide open in the P-51A? It did on the Mk.I and other models, and seems to me would obviate the need for that windshield panel with its extra framing.



August

[marine air]

I think it was a factory option just like whitewalls and glossy paint. The boys from Alabama liked it as it accommodated their tobacco chewing habits.

[marine air]

Delete

[JohnTerrell]

With regard to the "windshield door", as the NAA drawings refer to it, the original NAA drawings for those parts only indicate that it was a feature applicable to the P-51A-1-NA & Subs. and unfortunately doesn't supply any serial numbers as to which ones had it/didn't have it. Some A-36's (NA-97) had it too, which came before the P-51A (NA-99) - the third photo in Mark's original post features only NA-91's (P-51-NA/F-6A/Mk.1a), distinguishable by their wing-mounted cannons, which came even earlier.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Fri Mar 13, 2020 5:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[LysanderUK]

In RAF terminology, panels like these were referred to as "Direct Vision" or DV panels. I never realised some Mustangs had these, even though I've seen several of the above pics before. I won't be awarding myself 10 out of 10 for observation any time soon...

[pjpahs]

Isn’t that heavy weight boxer Joe Louis in 3rd to last photo.

[Ken]

While I enjoyed learning about the window, the best part of this thread was in both the color and resolution of most of the photos shared. Great stuff.

Ken

[Larry Kraus]

This is from the North American P-51A Flight Manual. The first image description is under Windshield. The others are obviously under item 4 and 5.


CDA8399A-C171-46B8-A93C-30F24900BE45 by tanker622001, on Flickr

B8B59642-F7D2-4F1A-9B58-5D770CFF8CB2 by tanker622001, on Flickr

14186B30-C353-4833-ADF5-61E972E824B5 by tanker622001, on Flickr

[Michel Lemieux]

Mark...this is one REALLY cool pic!!!!

Let me ask you.

Look at the birds on the right.

May be the picture..I have not clue.

But is seems to me that both birds even have a different structure frames for the canopy.

Again could be me...but look at the angles and window sizes.

Early pic from NA with various prototypes for various clients???? Britain, US, etc.....

Promo pic with all early prototype???? Again I a simply not educated on the subject.

[Lon Moer]

So;
- P-51A
- sliding canopy
- Malcolm hood
- post invasion stripes

P-51A 43-6165 Ruth (F-6, 67th FRG, 107th TRS) shot down by AAA 8 mi W of Cologne, Germany Sep 10, 1944.

[Blackbirdfan]

Mark...this is one REALLY cool pic!!!!

Let me ask you.

Look at the birds on the right.

May be the picture..I have not clue.

But is seems to me that both birds even have a different structure frames for the canopy.

Again could be me...but look at the angles and window sizes.

Early pic from NA with various prototypes for various clients???? Britain, US, etc.....

Promo pic with all early prototype???? Again I a simply not educated on the subject.

I think the one on the far right is the prototype. Its got the adjustable scoop. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that made it into production.)

It is a really cool pic.

Will

[JohnTerrell]

All of the Mustangs in that photo are NA-91's - designated as Mk.Ia in RAF service and as P-51-NA (no letter designation) in USAAF service. All but a couple of the P-51-NA's were later converted to photo-recon use and re-designated as F-6A's. The most distinguishing feature of the NA-91's were the cannons - the wing leading edge fairings for which can be seen in that photo.

Mustang I's (NA-73 and NA-83), Mk.Ia's and P-51-NA's/F-6A's (NA-91's) featured the adjustable radiator scoop. The later A-36's (NA-97) and even later P-51A's/Mk.II's (NA-99) did not. The XP-51 at the EAA Museum was one of two that were pulled from the initial production run of RAF Mustang I's (NA-73) and kept by the US Govt. for testing, and thus features the adjustable radiator scoop.

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Michel Lemieux]

This is one cool thread!