P-6 Mustang

[Krusty]

I like the looks of that Allison nose. Kind of a cross between a P-40B and a Spitfire! Looks sexy!

[MiloMorai]

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p51_3.html

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p51_8.html

A total of 91 aircraft from the Block-10 production lot (71 P-51B-10-NAs and 20 P-51C-10-NTs) were fitted with two oblique K24 cameras, or a K17 and a K22, to become F-6C-NA or -NT photo aircraft. Most of these aircraft retained their guns. In each case the cameras were mounted immediately in front of the structural break ahead of the tailwheel, looking out the left side.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p51_10.html

A total of 163 of these P-51Ks were completed as F-6K photo-reconnaissance aircraft. 126 Inglewood-built P-51Ds from blocks 20, 25, and 30 were converted after completion as F-6Ds. A few others were similarly converted near the end of the war. All of these photographic Mustangs carried two cameras in the rear fuselage, usually a K17 and a K22, one looking out almost horizontally off to the left and the other one down below looking out at at an oblique angle. Most F-6Ds and Ks carried a direction- finding receiver, serviced by a rotating loop antenna mounted just ahead of the dorsal fin. Most F-6Ds and Ks retained their armament.

The Baugher site is good source for American a/c info.

[CAP1]

Originally posted by angelsandair
anyone kno what that is, i saw it in a magazine, looked like a regular p-51 mustang, no cannons, nothing wierd, o and i think aces high should have the p-51a with the 4 20mm cannons also, but main topic is the p-6mustang, tell me a little about it, kind of interested

the A had 20mm's? i thought it had 4 50 cals........

[Krusty]

The P-51 (not P-51A, the one BEFORE the -A) had 200 made with 4x20mm cannons. These were planned to be sent to England, but the US took posession of them. They used them mostly for straffing, I think. They had the Allison with a low-alt power curve, so it's got less power and lower alts than the P-51B/D.


It's been requested a few times over the years, but chances of seeing it in-game are pretty slim. It saw minimal action, compared to the MG-armed Allison P-51As that followed.

[Treize69]

Some As were fitted with 4 Hispano 20mm cannons. Not many.

[MiloMorai]

Martin is very knowledgeable about Mustangs but I think he is mistaken about the ident of the Mustang in that photo.

[MiloMorai]

Originally posted by Krusty
It's been requested a few times over the years, but chances of seeing it in-game are pretty slim. It saw minimal action, compared to the MG-armed Allison P-51As that followed.

Mustang Is and IAs served with the RAF up until 1944.

[Treize69]

Another shot of the A with Hispanos.

[Krusty]

Not an -A. Just a P-51. No suffix.

The -A came after the cannon-armed version.

[Guppy35]

F6s were the recce birds.  F6A being allison engined, F6C and F6D or K based on th Merlin birds

[angelsandair]

well guys, the p-6 i saw in a magazine was called the p-6, it had machine guns, looked like a p-51d, maybe it was used after the war?? it didnt look like it had anything fancy on it, o and the p51s with the 4 20mms look cool

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Krusty
The P-51 (not P-51A, the one BEFORE the -A) had 200 made with 4x20mm cannons. These were planned to be sent to England, but the US took posession of them. They used them mostly for straffing, I think. They had the Allison with a low-alt power curve, so it's got less power and lower alts than the P-51B/D.

Incorrect.  150 "NA-91s" (later changed to P-51) were sent to England as part of the Land-Lease program.  These were outfitted with 4x 20mm cannons at the special request of the British.  The British wanted the cannons because of the weak firepower of the rifle caliber .303 machine guns at the time on the Spitfire and Hurricanes.  

The USAAF took 57 out of the 150 for it's own use.  Out of those 57, 2 were used as testing platforms and the remaining 55 were equipped with recce cameras in the rear of the fuselage and redesignated F6-As.

It's been requested a few times over the years, but chances of seeing it in-game are pretty slim. It saw minimal action, compared to the MG-armed Allison P-51As that followed.

The MG armed Allisions were also produced in greater quantity.  The Mustang I and Ia were used as tactical recce and ground attack aircraft over the English Channel but weren't considered to be effective fighters and were rarely used in that role.


ack-ack

[MajIssue]

Originally posted by Treize69
I think the F-6 was the photo-reco P-51, but aside from the camera it was identical to a P-51D. Same armament and everything.

Thats what Bill Shomo was flying when he got his "7 in one stroke" mission.

You are correct and incorrect sir... The F-6 was an unarmed pony used in the ETO for photo recon. There was tape over the unused gun ports in the wing leading edges. My guess is that they were a field mod of high time ponys.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by MajIssue
You are correct and incorrect sir... The F-6 was an unarmed pony used in the ETO for photo recon. There was tape over the unused gun ports in the wing leading edges. My guess is that they were a field mod of high time ponys.

F-6As retained their 4x .50 caliber machine guns after being converted from Mustang Ias.


ack-ack

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by MajIssue
You are correct and incorrect sir... The F-6 was an unarmed pony used in the ETO for photo recon. There was tape over the unused gun ports in the wing leading edges. My guess is that they were a field mod of high time ponys.

F6s were factory produced and served in all theaters of the war and in Korea.

They retained their armament.  There were F6 Aces.  There is a restored F6D  painted as Ace Clyde East's F6D "Lil Margaret".  It's one of the finest Mustang restorations flying and has the cameras in place.