Author Topic: Tail Warning System in P51 (Read 587 times)

FTJR · « **on:** February 20, 2007, 10:42:53 PM »

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/mustang/combat-reports/78-landers-19march45.jpg

Never heard of it before, would someone enlighten me please.

TIA

Treize69 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2007, 10:55:35 PM »

I'm still looking for a pic for you, but late war aircraft like the P-51D and P-38L sometimes carried a system that would alert the pilot if an aircraft passed behind them. Both an audible warning and a light on the control panel. Was called the AN/APS-13.

However this would usually go absolutely haywire in formations and was usually removed or unhooked. About its only use was to tell the weaver or tail-end charlie that he was about to get his butt shot off.

Murdr · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:03:38 PM »

ahh trieze beat me to it...its probably an APS-13. First used in P-38L, but installed on other allied planes also late in the war.

FTJR · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:52:27 PM »

Thanks for the quick replies, I guess I could've googled it, but there are more reliable sources here.

RGDS

Guppy35 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:53:38 PM »

Image of 506th FG Mustangs on Iwo with tail warning radar. You can see the shadow of the antenna on the tail

Restored 51D with tail warning radar in place.

Diagrams of placement of the antenna on the 51

FTJR · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2007, 12:03:03 AM »

Wow,

tks Dan

RGDS

mussie · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2007, 12:30:27 AM »

Imagine the fun you could have with your squadies if we had this LOL

Treize69 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:52:20 AM »

we do mussie, its the ' key.

Wilbus · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2007, 04:49:50 PM »

Brittish night bombers used tail warning radar aswell.

After some time the germans constructed a radar that would home in on the signal of the bombers tail warning radar.

Believe the electronic war was far more advanced then many people believe or would like to admit. Makes for a very interesting read though.

And then there was the not so electronic warfare but kind of cool... and funny looking.