P-51 Mustang operations on aircraft carriers

[pampa14]

I share with you some photos showing P-51 Mustangs on aircraft carriers. There was a naval version of this plane? To see the photos, visit the link below:


http://aviacaoemfloripa.blogspot.com.br/2011/02/um-p-51-mustang-navalizado.html


Cheers.

 

[George]

No naval version, being ferried.

 

[JOC]

Good point George, the flight deck does look a bit crowded for naval operations.

 

[BritinBritain]

If you look very carefully at some of the photographs an arrester hook is clearly visible.

 

[George]

OOOPS! I stand corrected!! Concern over the USAAF's inability to escort B-29s all the way to mainland Japan resulted in the highly classified "Seahorse" project (NAA-133), an effort to "navalize" the P-51. [nb 12] On 15 November 1944, naval aviator (and later test pilot) Lieutenant Bob Elder, in a P-51D-5-NA 44-14017, started flight tests from the deck of the carrier Shangri-La. This Mustang had been fitted with an arrestor hook, which was attached to a reinforced bulkhead behind the tail wheel opening; the hook was housed in a streamlined position under the rudder fairing and could be released from the cockpit.[53] The tests showed that the Mustang could be flown off the carrier deck without the aid of a catapult, using a flap setting of 20° down and 5° of up elevator. Landings were found to be easy, and, by allowing the tail wheel to contact the deck before the main gear, the aircraft could be stopped in a minimum distance.[54] The project was canceled after U.S. Marines secured the Japanese island of Iwo Jima and its airfields, making it possible for standard P-51D models to accompany B-29s all the way to the Japanese home islands and back.



So...I'd say most are standard Mustangs being ferried. The one landing on the carrier is obviously the conversion

 

[BritinBritain]

I'm surprised the P51 wasn't converted to carrier operations earlier. Brilliant aircraft.

 

[JOC]

I'm surprised the P51 wasn't converted to carrier operations earlier. Brilliant aircraft.

From what I understand the P-51 did not see a lot of action in the Pacific theater compared to other fighters such as the Corsair. But I've been wrong before.

 

[George]

From what I understand the P-51 did not see a lot of action in the Pacific theater compared to other fighters such as the Corsair. But I've been wrong before.

Europe was the priority. P-51 was introduced in China fairly late in the war. Most fighters there were involved with a lot of ground attack missions & the P-40 actually was harder to kill due to the radiator location on the P-51. The main area where the Army operated was the South West Pacific where the P-38 was preferred because it could fly long distances & get home on one engine if the other was damaged. P-51 use was late & limited.

 

[papasha408]

I don't believe the British designed and American produced P51 Mustang was ever a carrier aircraft. But, they really didn't need it on carriers as long as they had the superb Vought F4U Corsair at 417 MPH, great climb rate and fantastic range.

 

[George]

I don't believe the British designed and American produced P51 Mustang was ever a carrier aircraft. But, they really didn't need it on carriers as long as they had the superb Vought F4U Corsair at 417 MPH, great climb rate and fantastic range.

US designed, the engine was British designed.