Help with P-51D-30NA
 

serial num 44-74409A (not sure what the 'A' is for)
contract num 122-40949

Am interested in its early history before going to the RCAF in Jan 1951.

Of particular interest is the engine - whether the engine was a V-1650-3 or a V-1650-7.


Will be much appreciated.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

I think Joe Baugher’s site will explain this better, but after WWII, P-51s were deployed to active Air Force, Air Guard, Reserve Units, etc. The ‘A’ indicated active USAF fighter deployment.

Tony

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Also, that I know of, all P-51D had the -7 Packard Merlin. I believe that would be true for most B and C Mustangs also. The P-51H has the -9 Packard Merlin.

Tony

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

I don't believe this aircraft ever left USA before going to Canada.

I have a note saying 339 CCTS from 1945 (a Training Squadron)
No idea if it stayed there until SOC.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Thanks all.

This link has the Canadian a/c using both the -3 and -7 engines.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...51D-D-Duck.pdf

From the above Stig it would appear the a/c never left the USA until transferred but am curious about the engine change from -7 to -3 or was it delivered with a -3 initially.

A pilot manual for the D-5 of 1944,but revised in 1947 has data sheets for both the -3 and -7 engines. Revision additions are noted but not for the data sheets.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Here is a short summary of the IARc.
Delivered 25 May 1945 and available 31 May 1945
To Thomasville, GA 1 June 1945 (though 339CCTS was not on the IARc)
To Moody, GA 22 November 1945 [2225AFBU]
To Perrin, TX 24 March 1946 [2537AFBU]
To Luke, AZ 27 August 1946 [3028AFBU]
To Williams, AZ 2 December 1946 [3010AFBU]
To Kelly AMC, TX 25 September 1947
To Burbank AMC, CA 8 June 1950
To Military Assistance Program (MAP 148) 21 November 1950
Last date on IARc 30 November 1950 with the word Canada penciled in.

Hope that this helps a little and answers some of your questions. Ted51

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

http://www.rwrwalker.ca

RCAF NUMBER 9235

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

History of the a/c is the link in Post#5.

Neither mention when the -7 engine was changed to the -3 or if it came from the factory with the -3 engine.

Thank you Ted51.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Hi Ted
I see you are reading straight from the record card.
Problem with them is that the Base Units are listed but not the actual unit using said base.
I have just started with the C-46 but I suspect the P-51s were no different.

One day I will get the P-51s myself.... :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_V-1650_Merlin

This link would seem to indicate that the V-1650-7 was the original power plant for this a/c and that the V-1650-3 was an earlier less powerful engine used in earlier versions of the Mustang.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Yes Alex. The -3 was used in the B/C but later models of the B/C used the -7. http://joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p51.html

The -3 had a higher FTH than the -7.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

C-46 info:
214 MACRs from 430508-461116
779 Form 14s from 430215-451216 (foreign only)
26 Cumulative Losses in ETO from 450324-450508
Please send me a PM if you can. Ted51

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Not so much less powerful overall but with a different supercharger. (See RR Merlin 61 vs 66) The -7 had a slightly lower full throttle height, giving it better performance at lower altitudes. When the D appeared in the 8th AF a few individuals preferred to retain their B/C because it went faster higher up.

I've not seen any previous reference to a -3 in a P-51D but if you had a spare one I suspect it would fit without problems. As for the manual, perhaps there was some concern that enough -7s would not be available in time for early D production - and perhaps this happened?

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

That is what I was thinking Graham about the -3 being installed.

The B/C only faster over 25kft.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

The order from Material Command to change to 1650-7 from 1650-3 was issued in November 1943. The P-51B-10 was the first block insertion accepted in February, 1944. The P-51C-5 insertion was about the same time but might have been in mid block.

Until the P-51H and XP-82, and NA-105, 105A and 105B - all production P-51s delivered after January 1944 were a.) NMF and b. equipped with 1650-7


That said, the engines were often swapped in the ETO after overhauls at BAD2 Warton, and returned to the field.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Thanks Bill.
Are you saying at BAD2 that -3 engines would be swapped in?

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Yes, also at Fighter Base Service squadrons where engines from overhaul were sent as spares.

Re: Help with P-51D-30NA
 

Thank you very much Bill.