Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Hello I'm looking for informations about RAF Mustang IV sent to ACSEA at the end of the war.

Thank you.

Alain

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Could be wrong but I understand that most went direct to scrap yards.

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Hi Alain,

Can you be a bit more specific about which RAF Organizations in the South East Asian Theatre you are searching for?

I am unaware of any regular RAF squadrons operating late model bubble canopy Mustangs in SEA or specifically CBI (China Burma India) Theatre of operations. The following website - http://www.historyofwar.org/articles...stang_RAF.html - gives a quick reference of the types of Mustangs used by the RAF per squadron. It's not totally comprehensive, but is reasonably accurate. I cross-checked the indicated squadrons flying the Mk.IV against John Rawlings' "Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. ....".

For - No. 19, 64, 65, 93, 112, 118, 122, 126, 154, 213, 234, 249, 250, 260, 303, 442 and 611 Squadrons RAF - all were based in western Europe (UK mainly) or a few in the Middle East/Mediterranean area. None were noted in SEA while operating Mustangs.

A number of Australia-based RAAF squadrons were operational towards the end of the Pacific war (circa July-Aug 1945), and you can find more details of any actual wartime operational use with the P-51D (Australian assembly code CA-17 or CA-18, RAAF type-designation A68-xxx) on the ADF-serials website - http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a68.htm - the RAAF never used the Mustang IV designation for P-51s in the SW Pacific. I don't believe any of the Australian-based P-51s flew operational sorties against Japanese forces in 1945.

Joe Baugher's website - http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p51_11.html - makes a short reference to "...the end of the war in Europe, the RAF took delivery of 600 Mustang IVs in India for use against the Japanese in Burma and beyond. However, Japan surrendered before these could be put to use, and most of these aircraft were scrapped......" However, there are no specified serial numbers listed - unlike most of his other sections. So perhaps there had been plans in discussion, but no actual production or deliveries to India.

Are you looking for any specific aircraft-trials or test squadron/unit operating the Mustang IV?


Regards, ...geoff

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Alain:
My best count was just over 200 Mustang IV that went to ACSEA. The majority were from KM 317 to KM 741. Most of these were delivered in early August 1945 and as far as the AM 78 reveal none were combat deployed, though 3 had accidents with TWDU, 320MU, and 5CMU. KM 147, 154, 169, and 174 were deployed to ACSEA in March 1945. Hope that this helps. Ted51

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Hello Geoff,
Air Britain RAF serial "KA-KZ" series gives serials with note "FE" and "SOC" most went "to India" .
Serials I have in this range are -
KM147;154;169;174;385;478;525;538;541;543;545;548; 549;553;554;557;562;564;569;573;574;
576;577;582;584-587;589-591;593;595;597;600;601;604;605-743.
Could be more ?
Alex
PS
If I remember correctly these the number I gave were from an old Air Enthusiast magazine ?

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Hi Alex,


SOC = Struck Off Charge, which means taken off RAF service and covers a host of designations ranging from destroyed on operations through to an allocated service serial reserved for an actual aircraft but not actually used.


I have no doubt that a lot of aircraft production was planned for the Far East - Burma, Operation Zipper (the planned Allied invasion of Malaya), the eventual invasion of the Japanese Home Islands, etc. I would be keen to know how many of the serials in Air Britain actually corresponded to US c/n as produced and shipped aircraft. I don't have anything at hand to confirm or deny this fact.


600 (Baugher's numbers) long-range late-model Mustangs seems a very large number to scrap in-situ in India, especially as some UK-based squadrons were using their Mustang IV's until 1947.



...geoff

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Alex/Geoff

Four SAAF Squadrons were supposed to be sent to the CBI front, but the Japanese surrender stopped all such plans.

Except for a few aircraft assembled (one was KM730) and test flown, all aircraft remained in their packing crates and ultimately returned to USAAF care.

Due to a severe lack of shipping space, the USAAF simply could not handle them back to USA and it was decided to scrap them in situ.

I am not sure if it is possible or not to say exactly how many Mustang IV which actually arrived. 600 seems like a rounded figure to me....

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

From my copy of Bruce Robertson's "British Military Aircraft Serials 1912-1966" (1966 Edition):
KH641-670 Mustang IV
KH671-870 Mustang IV.A (KH687 crashed in USA before delivery)

KM100-492 Mustang IV (ex-USAAF P-51K)
KM493-743 Mustang IV (ex-USAAF P-51D)
KM744-799 not delivered
(Not sure if ex-USAAF means diverted from USAAF orders, or ex-USAAF service aircraft?)


Alex,
Any chance of a scan of the Air Britain pages with the Mustang IV lists?


Regards,
...geoff

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

Hello,

Just to add -

Air Britain's " The British Air Commission and Lend-Lease" has the following on page 115.

Mustang IV(P51D) - North American - AC-2400 - BSC43196.
48 Aircraft.
48 Aircraft to India:
KM696 - 743.
44-84391 to 84397 (7).
44-84468 (1).
44-84681 to 84720 (40).

These were only the Lend-Lease aircraft and are included in my earlier list.

At least 176 a/c

I suggest that the 600 figure may include the 176(?)RAF a/c and a/c of other Mustang user's in the region..

Alex

Re: Mustang IV in ACSEA
 

I have seen a picture of P-51Ds in SEAC roundels in a postwar scrap yard, which would certainly confirm their arrival. I can't swear how many, but not 600 in the picture!