Placing the Fairey Battle.

[Graham Boak]

Yes, but the orders were placed long before then. The RAF were supplied with limited numbers of P-51B/C fighters from 1943, but priority was given to the 8thAF. I feel that this was the correct priority for the overall Allied cause, but it gives a misleading impression of a lower RAF interest in long-range fighters than actually was the case. The numbers of aircraft supplied to the RAF rose after D-Day, permitting the conversion of more squadrons to the P-51: there is a suggestion that some of these were 8th AF veterans but I don't think that has been verified.

[Kutscha]

The first RAF base to receive Mustang IIIs was at Gravesend in Kent. The Mustang III initially equipped No. 65 Squadron in late December of 1943, followed by No. 19 Squadron in March of 1944. Later the Mk. III also equipped Nos 64, 65, 66, 93, 94, 112, 118, 122, 126, 129, 165, 234, 237, 241 249, 250, 260, 268, 306, 309, 315, 316, 345, 430, 441, 442, and 516 Squadrons and No. 541 Squadron of RAF Coastal Command.

The RAF Mustang IIIs began operations late in February 1944, escorting US heavy bombers as well as both US and RAF medium bombers.

[Kutscha]

The first P-39C (Ser No 40-2971) flew in January of 1941. The Army discovered almost immediately that the P-39C was not combat ready, since it lacked armor and self-sealing tanks.

Gee, your much toted P-39 did not have armor and self-sealing fuel tanks and flew some 17 months after WW2 had started. One would think that lessons would have been learned by then and been incorperated in the design from the start.