The “Sun Setters” ...

wendovertom · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 10:04 am

I know its about he Mustangs but that P-61 shot!!

Tom P.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7819

For the radioheads

https://www.scribd.com/document/3914589 ... -Equipment

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:33 pm

Thank you Mark! Little late to the party here but excited to see some of these, esp since there are several that are brand new to me!

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:40 pm

greatgonzo wrote:

John, I was wondering where IFF set was placed on Mustang with standard battery configuration. Could it be the aft compartment, where AN/APS13 set was later installed?

Not sure if I'm answering your question or not, but on the VLR Mustangs, the standard battery was moved to right in front of the firewall, in a little holder that was basically in front of the oil tank.

BTW, the AN/APS13 tail radar was uninstalled by several of the squadrons, based upon the history reports and in talking to the vets. They found it more of an annoyance than anything else!

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:54 pm

Those P-47 shots are from Hawaii, where the 15th FG was based before converting to Mustangs and being sent off. While the 15th FG and 21st FG were VLR P-51 units, they were involved earlier in the war and fought in other aircraft, such as P-40s, A-24s, and P-38s. The 506th was created solely to be a VLR unit (Very Long Range) from their beginning in 1944.

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 4:56 pm

Three P-51 Mustangs of the 462nd Fighter Squadron, 506th Fighter Group patrolling off of Iwo Jima in the Western Pacific, in July 1945.[/quote]

The lead aircraft here is being flown by 2nd Lt. Ed Linfante. Meatball and Little Joe are alongside of unamed (at the time) 628. If you look at the closest drop tank, this is actually a life raft survival drop called 'Josephine'. It's a little clearer in the exact photo I have, but the kind of ribbed markings around the tank give it away. I believe it (Josehine) was the brain child of ace Jim Tapp, of the 78th FS, 15th FG.

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 5:05 pm

JohnTerrell wrote:

Thank you Mark for sharing these excellent photos! I'm quite excited by the prospect of possibly seeing a newly rebuilt Mustang unveiled this year in 506th FG markings (unless the owner has since changed his mind).

The last I heard, a couple months ago, that was still the plan!!!

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 5:09 pm

greatgonzo wrote:

John, I was wondering where IFF set was placed on Mustang with standard battery configuration. Could it be the aft compartment, where AN/APS13 set was later installed?

There was no IFF set on the vast majority of P-51 production, and in the case of the P-51D, if it had it, it was always installed in the original location of the battery, nowhere else. The IFF (SCR-695) was installed on a few of the earliest P-51B's that saw service in the ETO, but then it was just done away with for a long time. The IFF wasn't installed again in Mustang production (aside from the those modified for Iwo Jima) until in P-51D-30-NA production from Inglewood and in P-51D-25-NT and P-51D-30-NT production from Dallas - almost none of which were built in time to see action in WWII.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7819

For the Iwo Jima fans.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30987550@ ... 0962269572

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30987550@ ... 2071/page1

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30987550@ ... 8175442074

phil65 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:13 pm

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30987550@ ... 121032071/

Drum bombs...

Phil

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:49 am

Thank You for answers.
John, I understand the early B's with IFF were those without fuselage tank? Now how about the service in ETO? AFAIK it was enough space to add IFF box on the shelf behind the seat in B/C Mustang. Did it happen?

Waltz41 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:15 am

These are kind of rarely seen or talked about, so I found a couple more pics of the Josephine life raft survival tanks so thought I would share.

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78th_fs_tapp_A42366.jpg [ 308.76 KiB | Viewed 1230 times ]

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Heimann457th_229.jpg [ 272.31 KiB | Viewed 1230 times ]

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