Help with P-51D-30NA

[Kutscha]

serial num 44-74409A (not sure what the 'A' is for)
contract num 122-40949

Am interested in its early history before going to the RCAF in Jan 1951.

Of particular interest is the engine - whether the engine was a V-1650-3 or a V-1650-7.


Will be much appreciated.

[Tony Kambic]

I think Joe Baugher’s site will explain this better, but after WWII, P-51s were deployed to active Air Force, Air Guard, Reserve Units, etc. The ‘A’ indicated active USAF fighter deployment.

Tony

[Tony Kambic]

Also, that I know of, all P-51D had the -7 Packard Merlin. I believe that would be true for most B and C Mustangs also. The P-51H has the -9 Packard Merlin.

Tony

[Stig Jarlevik]

I don't believe this aircraft ever left USA before going to Canada.

I have a note saying 339 CCTS from 1945 (a Training Squadron)
No idea if it stayed there until SOC.

Cheers
Stig

[Kutscha]

Thanks all.

This link has the Canadian a/c using both the -3 and -7 engines.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...51D-D-Duck.pdf

From the above Stig it would appear the a/c never left the USA until transferred but am curious about the engine change from -7 to -3 or was it delivered with a -3 initially.

A pilot manual for the D-5 of 1944,but revised in 1947 has data sheets for both the -3 and -7 engines. Revision additions are noted but not for the data sheets.

[Ted51abcdk]

Here is a short summary of the IARc.
Delivered 25 May 1945 and available 31 May 1945
To Thomasville, GA 1 June 1945 (though 339CCTS was not on the IARc)
To Moody, GA 22 November 1945 [2225AFBU]
To Perrin, TX 24 March 1946 [2537AFBU]
To Luke, AZ 27 August 1946 [3028AFBU]
To Williams, AZ 2 December 1946 [3010AFBU]
To Kelly AMC, TX 25 September 1947
To Burbank AMC, CA 8 June 1950
To Military Assistance Program (MAP 148) 21 November 1950
Last date on IARc 30 November 1950 with the word Canada penciled in.

Hope that this helps a little and answers some of your questions. Ted51

[Alex Smart]

http://www.rwrwalker.ca

RCAF NUMBER 9235

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

http://www.rwrwalker.ca

RCAF NUMBER 9235

History of the a/c is the link in Post#5.

Neither mention when the -7 engine was changed to the -3 or if it came from the factory with the -3 engine.

Thank you Ted51.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Ted51abcdk

Here is a short summary of the IARc.
Delivered 25 May 1945 and available 31 May 1945
To Thomasville, GA 1 June 1945 (though 339CCTS was not on the IARc)
To Moody, GA 22 November 1945 [2225AFBU]
To Perrin, TX 24 March 1946 [2537AFBU]
To Luke, AZ 27 August 1946 [3028AFBU]
To Williams, AZ 2 December 1946 [3010AFBU]
To Kelly AMC, TX 25 September 1947
To Burbank AMC, CA 8 June 1950
To Military Assistance Program (MAP 148) 21 November 1950
Last date on IARc 30 November 1950 with the word Canada penciled in.

Hope that this helps a little and answers some of your questions. Ted51

Hi Ted
I see you are reading straight from the record card.
Problem with them is that the Base Units are listed but not the actual unit using said base.
I have just started with the C-46 but I suspect the P-51s were no different.

One day I will get the P-51s myself....

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_V-1650_Merlin

This link would seem to indicate that the V-1650-7 was the original power plant for this a/c and that the V-1650-3 was an earlier less powerful engine used in earlier versions of the Mustang.