Mustang IV in ACSEA

[Stig Jarlevik]

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

[bearoutwest]

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

[Alex Smart]

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