A-36 with the RAF

[hanshauprich]

Hello!
Did the RAF get any A-36 during the Lend & Lease and if so, where they in action?
Bests,
h.

[Buckeye30]

Only one, EW998 ex-42-83685 , contract AC-27390 for evaluation only.
Not needed as Vengeance dive-bombers were ordered.
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hans

Not lend-lease but on loan they also received six A-36A in the Med area.
Basically used by 1457 Flight.

They are listed as Mustang III in many sources, but that is wrong, they were A-36A!

Cheers
Stig

[Graham Boak]

However they were used as fighter-recce aircraft, not as dive-bombers. I understand however that some P-51Bs were also similarly obtained.

[hanshauprich]

Thanks!
Where they armed with .50BMG or 20mm Hispano Cannons?
h.

[Col Ford]

The six A-36A obtained as a "in theatre loan" from the USAAF and used by 1437 Flight were primarily used as fighter reconnaissance aircraft. They retained the US supplied armament of 6 x 0.50in Browning HMGs - two in nose synchronised to fire through the propellor arc and two in each wing. There is a chapter and summary of operations conducted by these aircraft in the book about the A-36 by Peter Smith - "Straight Down". They were primarily withdrawn from operational use by 1457 Flight due to maintenance and support issues. A couple of the A-36s were used afterwards to facilitate type transition training by RAF and RAAF units converting from P-40s to Mustang Mk.IIIs, including by No.3 (RAAF) Squadron. At end of use by the RAF they were either handed back to the USAAF or written off. No.225 Squadron also acquired through a "in theatre loan" from the USAAF, four P-51 aircraft, these being the equivalent of the RAF Mustang Mk.IA and armed with four 20mm Hispano cannon. These were used in the fighter reconnaissance role and to provide an aircraft with a larger radius of action than the Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires that were their main equipment at the time. No Mustang Mk.I or P-51A (Mustang Mk.II) type aircraft were operated by the RAF in the MTO. In terms of the later Merlin engined Mustangs delivered to the MTO, the P-51B/C (Mustang Mk.III) and P-51D/K (Mustang Mk.IV/IVa) these were all supplied as part of allocation to RAF under Lend Lease.

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by hanshauprich

Thanks!
Where they armed with .50BMG or 20mm Hispano Cannons?
h.

No 20mm. The Mustang IA had the 20mm.
http://joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p51_6.html

[Buckeye30]

I think this should be 1437 ( SR) Flight ( Egypt and Italy) , 1457 was a Turbinlite Flight at Colerne ? The A-36 was unofficially "Invader" referring to the Sicily invasion, the "Apache" was the P-51-NA / Mustang IA ( both soon called "Mustangs").

Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

I think this should be 1437 ( SR) Flight ( Egypt and Italy) , 1457 was a Turbinlite Flight at Colerne ? The A-36 was unofficially "Invader" referring to the Sicily invasion, the "Apache" was the P-51-NA / Mustang IA ( both soon called "Mustangs").

Nick

Nick
Should have gone to Specsavers... , sigh
You are certainly correct regarding the 1437 Flight. All records say so....

Cheers
Stig

[Col Ford]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

I think this should be 1437 ( SR) Flight ( Egypt and Italy) , 1457 was a Turbinlite Flight at Colerne ? The A-36 was unofficially "Invader" referring to the Sicily invasion, the "Apache" was the P-51-NA / Mustang IA ( both soon called "Mustangs").

Nick

AND, the P-51-NA / Mustang Mk.IA was NEVER called "Apache". The "Apache" name was the name NAA was proposing for the family of aircraft based on the original XP-51 design, but that name was never officially adopted, the British selected name for the aircraft "Mustang" being adopted to cover the family of aircraft. Even the USAF Museum in the USA has updated the information board in front of their A-36 to remove the "Apache" name from the board, having been shown and convinced of the facts around the proper name for the type, which is also "Mustang".