A-36 with the RAF
 

Hello!
Did the RAF get any A-36 during the Lend & Lease and if so, where they in action?
Bests,
h.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Only one, EW998 ex-42-83685 , contract AC-27390 for evaluation only.
Not needed as Vengeance dive-bombers were ordered.
Nick

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Hans

Not lend-lease but on loan they also received six A-36A in the Med area.
Basically used by 1457 Flight.

They are listed as Mustang III in many sources, but that is wrong, they were A-36A!

Cheers
Stig

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

However they were used as fighter-recce aircraft, not as dive-bombers. I understand however that some P-51Bs were also similarly obtained.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Thanks!
Where they armed with .50BMG or 20mm Hispano Cannons?
h.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

The six A-36A obtained as a "in theatre loan" from the USAAF and used by 1437 Flight were primarily used as fighter reconnaissance aircraft. They retained the US supplied armament of 6 x 0.50in Browning HMGs - two in nose synchronised to fire through the propellor arc and two in each wing. There is a chapter and summary of operations conducted by these aircraft in the book about the A-36 by Peter Smith - "Straight Down". They were primarily withdrawn from operational use by 1457 Flight due to maintenance and support issues. A couple of the A-36s were used afterwards to facilitate type transition training by RAF and RAAF units converting from P-40s to Mustang Mk.IIIs, including by No.3 (RAAF) Squadron. At end of use by the RAF they were either handed back to the USAAF or written off. No.225 Squadron also acquired through a "in theatre loan" from the USAAF, four P-51 aircraft, these being the equivalent of the RAF Mustang Mk.IA and armed with four 20mm Hispano cannon. These were used in the fighter reconnaissance role and to provide an aircraft with a larger radius of action than the Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires that were their main equipment at the time. No Mustang Mk.I or P-51A (Mustang Mk.II) type aircraft were operated by the RAF in the MTO. In terms of the later Merlin engined Mustangs delivered to the MTO, the P-51B/C (Mustang Mk.III) and P-51D/K (Mustang Mk.IV/IVa) these were all supplied as part of allocation to RAF under Lend Lease.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

No 20mm. The Mustang IA had the 20mm.
http://joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p51_6.html

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

I think this should be 1437 ( SR) Flight ( Egypt and Italy) , 1457 was a Turbinlite Flight at Colerne ? The A-36 was unofficially "Invader" referring to the Sicily invasion, the "Apache" was the P-51-NA / Mustang IA ( both soon called "Mustangs").

Nick

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Nick
Should have gone to Specsavers...:o , sigh
You are certainly correct regarding the 1437 Flight. All records say so....

Cheers
Stig

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

AND, the P-51-NA / Mustang Mk.IA was NEVER called "Apache". The "Apache" name was the name NAA was proposing for the family of aircraft based on the original XP-51 design, but that name was never officially adopted, the British selected name for the aircraft "Mustang" being adopted to cover the family of aircraft. Even the USAF Museum in the USA has updated the information board in front of their A-36 to remove the "Apache" name from the board, having been shown and convinced of the facts around the proper name for the type, which is also "Mustang".

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Did 14 Squadron borrow some A-36's and score the following victories :-
30/5/43 F/O.Crawford (Mustang 41-37364) Fiat G12 of 605a Sq
F/Sgt Cambbell ( Mustang 41-47414)

31/5/43 F/L D.Blair Fiat RS 14 of 170 Sq
P/O J.K.K.Gildner

07/6/43 F/L D.Blair Cant Z506B of 188 Sq
P/O J.K.K.Gildner

Question ; were these Mustang as used by RAF Army Co op Squadrons or A-36's

Bruce Lander

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Bruce, page 19 of the fourth volume of the Mediterranean Air War series reports the 14 Squadron Mustangs were P-51As, later serving with the American 111th TRS as F-6As.

You have a PM.

Kind regards,

Dan

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Serial numbers of the A-36 were 42-83663/84162.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Hello,

Re: No.14 Sqn RAF Mustangs:

In May 1943 a Flight of six American P51 [sic] Mustang fighters were attached to the Squadron for an operational trial. These aircraft were flown by RAF pilots from 32 Squadron led by Flt Lt (Douglas) Blair to determine the suitability of the Mustang for Coastal reconnaissance. Flt Lt Blair and Flt Sgt C P Ashworth* carried out the first operational Mustang sortie on 29 May (1943), and their first aerial success came the next day when Fg Off H A Crawford** and Flt Sgt D Campbell shot down a Ju 52 off the eastern coast of Sardinia. other air-to-air successes included a Fiat RS14 floatplane which was downed the next day by Fg Off J K K Gildner and another RS14 shot down in the Bay of Ostriano by Flt Lt Blair on 7 June. The Mustangs flew reconnaissance sorties around the Sardinian coast throughout late May and early June, generally operating in pairs. However, overall the experiment was not a success; the Mustang pilots resented their unglamourous role and the Marauder crews resented the flamboyant fighter pilots. The unhappy marriage was dissolved in mid-June and the Mustangs were returned to the USAAF.

P-51-2 Mustang - 137364 - Date on: 28 Apr 1943 - Date off: 16 Jun 1943
P-51-2 Mustang - 137368 - Date on: 17 May 1943 - Date off: 16 Jun 1943
P-51-2 Mustang - 137369 - Date on: 29 Apr 1943 - Date off: 16 Jun 1943
P-51-2 Mustang - 137370 - Date on: 13 May 1943 - Date off: 16 Jun 1943
P-51-2 Mustang - 137414 - Date on: 28 Apr 1943 - Date off: 16 Jun 1943
P-51-2 Mustang - 137429 - Date on: 06 May 1943 - Date off: 16 Jun 1943

(P-51-2 ???)

* NZ413367 F/Sgt Corran Perry ASHWORTH RNZAF.
** J15545 F/O Harvey Alexander Crawford RCAF
See:
Winged Crusaders - The Exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915-1945
Napier,Michael.
Barnsley:Pen & Sword Aviation,2012.
pp.262-3 & 310

Col.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

Thanks Col

Very interesting information!!

Cheers
Stig

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

The Mustangs used by No.14 Squadron RAF were the NA-91, which was the P-51 - no suffix, US equivalent to the RAF Mustang Mk.IA. The 4 x 20mm Hispano cannon armament version. Again, was a "in theatre loan" from the USAAF to the RAF.

Re: A-36 with the RAF
 

This article explain there was two different designations: http://www.crazyhorseap.be/Mustangs/...IA/P-51_01.htm

P-51-1 and P-51-2 for the Mustang IA taken over by the AAF, with only one (41-37320/FD418) receiving the first designation. The difference between the two remains unknow to me.