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Old 12th October 2018, 06:31
bearoutwest bearoutwest is offline
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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
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