JohnTerrell wrote:
In the Pacific, Mustangs flying from Iwo Jima used the 110-gallon metal drop tanks on the VLR (Very Long Range) missions, providing 489 gallons over all, which would allow them to fly the 7-hours average for these missions. Furthermore, on the loitering missions flown from Iwo Jima, they installed the 165-gallon metal tanks (as commonly associated with the P-38), providing almost 600 gallons of fuel, so that they could spend a few hours more in the air over Japan. I recall reading of a few instances where, if a fellow pilot had to ditch out in the open ocean, a few of these 165-gallon drop tank equipped Mustangs would spend hours circling the area until a Catalina, ship or submarine would arrive to rescue them, before they would return to base, sometimes having spent nearly 10 hours in the air. They may have also done some things/used some tricks to lean the engines out, use the lowest, most fuel efficient cruise power settings and really squeak out the most range from these Mustangs - like what they did with Pacific-based P-38's.
The 165 gallon tanks were almost exclusively used for the rocket loaded P-51 missions. The increased drag from the rockets required more fuel for the duration of the mission, so they used them. I've talked to a few 506th FG pilots at the last reunion, and one told me they flew one of the rocket missions and the Mustang was very difficult to fly in this configuration. You also couldn't use your flaps when those 165 gal tanks were on, as the rear of the tank extended outwards too far behind the wing. I know I read at least one pilot forgot once and did some damage to the plane! Another pilot told me after a VLR mission, he was coming back and had to wait to land...another aircraft was coming back in with an emergency. Anyways.....he knew he was getting low and basically told the 'tower' I'm coming in whether you like it or not. As he was getting chewed out after he landed, his crew chief found him and told him he had just about 5 gallons left in each wing tank. Also, the use of the 110 and 165 gallon tanks required a wooden 'sway brace' to keep the large tanks from moving around too much. And I do believe the longest flight mission for a VLR P-51 was over 9 hours long!
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