Malcolm Hood

[Jim Oxley]

Was a clever design by the firm R Malcolm & Co in Britain, and initially incorporated into the Spitfire design. Benefits were the use of plexiglass that could be moulded, rather than glass sheets. They less likely to harm a pilot in the event of a crash or combat, made a significant weight saving and provided outstanding rear view compared to standard 'straight' canopies.

What I find surprising is that only the P-51 B and C models made use of it, as did the latter models of the F4U.

Was the Malcolm hood ever considered for aircraft such as the early models of the P-47, or the Hurricane, Typhoon, P-40, F4F and F6F?

[kaki3152]

I believe there were P-47s outfitted with Malcolm Hoods

[Buckeye30]

Supply was limited and priority was given to Eighth AF P-51 Groups for their long-rang escort missions; secondary to Ninth AF Tac. Recon. Groups for their vital ops. in view of the up-coming invasion, most of their F-6Cs had them by 1945. A few found their way to Eighth / Ninth P-47 Groups but with assignments to P-51 Groups here I doubt that any left the UK.
The RAF Mustang III squadrons were allocated, I believe 19 Sqn. first. Also easier and safer to bail out with a sliding hood.


Nick

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Jim Oxley

Benefits were the use of plexiglass

Excuse the pedantry, Jim but it was more likely known at the time as Perspex (which I think is a brand name). That was certainly the word used in Britain when I was a kid — plexiglass only existed in American books!

[Col Ford]

The Malcolm Hood installation for the Mustang was trialled on a NA-91 P-51 (no suffix) Mustang IA in the UK. It was originally intended to be a mandatory modification onto all RAF Mustangs in the UK. NA-99 P-51A Mustangs of the USAAF TRG units in the UK and RAF Mustang II Tac/R units having initial priority for the modification. As the Merlin engined P-51B/C started arriving in the UK and being allocated to both the USAAF and RAF (as the Mustang III) it was also adopted for the Merlin engine Mustangs and as many modified as supply of the full modification kits and manpower allowed.


First three RAF Squadrons to be allocated Merlin engine Mustang IIIs were No.65 (East India) Squadron (17 December 1943), No.19 Squadron (12 January 1944) and No.122 Squadron (16 January 1944), in that order. Most of their initial allocation of Mustang IIIs had the original framed canopy, but these were soon replaced by Mustang IIIs fitted with the Malcolm Hood as they became available - No.65 Squadron received their first Mustang III fitted with a Malcolm Hood in late January 1944.


There was a separate version of the modification also done in limited numbers on some P-47s based in the UK.

[Franek Grabowski]

By Spring 1944 there were only odd Mustang IIIs with 'Messerschmitt' canopy stlll in service at ETO, and I guess quickly converted unless written off.
P-47 modification seemingly was quite popular, and I believe some canopies were fitted to FAA Hellcats.

[Jim Oxley]

Thanks for the replies guys, appreciate it.

Have not come across photo's of the Malcolm Hood fitted to either the P-47 or the F6F. If anyone has them would greatly appreciate them being posted here.

[Franek Grabowski]

Jim
First link.
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/thread...om-hood.52444/
Hellcat.
https://i262.photobucket.com/albums/...ellcat-FAA.jpg