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Claveworks — Mustang USAAF 363rd FS 2

Published: 2007-05-13 09:55:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 5487; Favourites: 57; Downloads: 0
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Description The North American P-51 Mustang was designed for the RAF early in WW2. It entered combat service in 1942 and proved to be good at low altitude but lacking above 15,000 feet. The RAF's Fighter Development Unit fitted some Mustangs with Rolls Royce Merlin engines and it proved to be a stroke of genius - The Mustang was now faster than almost anything and could reach over 40,000 feet altitude. The USAF became interested, and North American began producing Mustangs with a Packard Merlin engine as a new fighter to escort bombers on long-range missions.

There were several modifications, and the final 'D' versions had a 'bubble' canopy for better visibility. The Mustang was armed with 6 x 12.7mm machine guns.

This example is a P-51D of the 363rd Fighter Squadron 1945.
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Comments: 24

13aceofspades13 [2010-06-12 14:53:18 +0000 UTC]

WOW... this is going on my favorites.

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Claveworks In reply to 13aceofspades13 [2010-06-13 10:38:14 +0000 UTC]

Glad you like it

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LastBlackDragon [2008-12-03 21:01:24 +0000 UTC]

heh, probably one of the most well known mustangs x3

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Claveworks In reply to LastBlackDragon [2008-12-04 01:41:31 +0000 UTC]

Oh yes, no Mustang collection would be complete without it...

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htfshimmer [2008-05-02 21:19:59 +0000 UTC]

The good ol P-51, And Bud's, he was a great fighter.
I love this one probably the most!

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Claveworks In reply to htfshimmer [2008-05-03 21:37:22 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I like this and 'American Beauty' a lot

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WillMoyer [2007-08-24 02:39:14 +0000 UTC]

Hey, back then wasn't it called the USAAC? not the USAF?

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Claveworks In reply to WillMoyer [2007-08-24 06:05:43 +0000 UTC]

You are right, I didn't realise they changed so late - it was 1947....

* Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps 1 August 1907 - 18 July 1914
* Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps 18 July 1914 - 20 May 1918
* Division of Military Aeronautics 20 May 1918 - 24 May 1918
* U.S. Army Air Service 24 May 1918 - 2 July 1926
* U.S. Army Air Corps 2 July 1926 - 20 June 1941**
* U.S. Army Air Forces 20 June 1941 - 18 September 1947**
* United States Air Force 18 September 1947 - Present

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Sandwich-Anomaly [2007-08-24 01:26:40 +0000 UTC]

ah the good ol' mustang... i kinda missed these things back in battlefield 1942, but those were a different kind...

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darthpandanl [2007-08-13 13:08:00 +0000 UTC]

WOW Good job!

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Claveworks In reply to darthpandanl [2007-08-13 14:08:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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WillMoyer [2007-08-13 02:15:46 +0000 UTC]

w00t! Bud Anderson's P-51D I have his autograph! (strange to see a D model mustang with paint, I normaly see the D models stripped of paint)

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Claveworks In reply to WillMoyer [2007-08-13 05:34:52 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, quite unusual - and cool that you got his autograph B)

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AllStarZ [2007-07-20 02:17:49 +0000 UTC]

Looking good.

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Claveworks In reply to AllStarZ [2007-07-21 10:10:14 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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bear48 [2007-07-16 03:33:18 +0000 UTC]

the Mustangs all look sharp

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Claveworks In reply to bear48 [2007-07-16 09:06:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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M2M-design [2007-05-14 07:02:49 +0000 UTC]

old but strong!

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Claveworks In reply to M2M-design [2007-05-14 11:19:53 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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SeanDouglas [2007-05-13 11:13:01 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, Col Anderson right? Nice one as usual.

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Claveworks In reply to SeanDouglas [2007-05-13 11:33:46 +0000 UTC]

Yep, it's a big change from the 'all metal' ones too..
and thanks also

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tomulus [2007-05-13 10:33:39 +0000 UTC]

are those d-day markings ?
if so shouldn't they be on the wings as well ?

sry to bother

great work as always

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Claveworks In reply to tomulus [2007-05-13 11:32:27 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, the wing marking on this a/c was limited to a single white stripe..

And thanks

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tomulus In reply to Claveworks [2007-05-13 16:44:46 +0000 UTC]

ah... i see... thx for explaining

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