[Col Bruggy]

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.