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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36
and a P-51A? |
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36
and a P-51A? |
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
"Scubabix" wrote:
This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? Dive brakes. The A-36 was the dive-bomber version of the Allison-engined Mustang. I'll quote from one of Ernie Pyle's columns, in his collection "Brave Men" (ch. 12, "Dive Bombers," describing life in the 12th Air Support Command in Italy): "Our dive bombers were known as A-36 Invaders. Actually they were nothing more than the famous P-51 equipped with diving brakes. For a long time they didn't have any name at all, and then one day in Sicily one of the pilots said, 'Why don't we call them Invaders, since we're invading?'" and "Those boys dived about eight thousand feet before dropping their bombs. Without brakes their speed in such a dive would ordinarily build up to around seven hundred miles an hour, but the brakes held them down to around 390. The brakes were nothing but metal flaps in the form of griddles about two feet long and eight or ten inches high. They lay flat on the wings during ordinary flying." and "If you ever heard a dive bombing by our A-36 Invader planes you'd never forget it. Even in normal flight that plane made a sort of screaming noise; when this was multiplied manifold by the velocity of the dive the wail could be heard for miles From the ground it sounded as though they were coming directly down on us. It was a horrifying thing. "The German Stuka could never touch the A-36 for sheer frightfulness of sound. Also, the Stuka always dived at an angle. But those Invaders came literally straight down. If a man looked up and saw one above him, he couldn't tell where it was headed. It could strike anywhere within a mile on any side of him. That's the reason it spread its terror so wide." --Bill Thompson |
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
"Scubabix" wrote:
This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? Dive brakes. The A-36 was the dive-bomber version of the Allison-engined Mustang. I'll quote from one of Ernie Pyle's columns, in his collection "Brave Men" (ch. 12, "Dive Bombers," describing life in the 12th Air Support Command in Italy): "Our dive bombers were known as A-36 Invaders. Actually they were nothing more than the famous P-51 equipped with diving brakes. For a long time they didn't have any name at all, and then one day in Sicily one of the pilots said, 'Why don't we call them Invaders, since we're invading?'" and "Those boys dived about eight thousand feet before dropping their bombs. Without brakes their speed in such a dive would ordinarily build up to around seven hundred miles an hour, but the brakes held them down to around 390. The brakes were nothing but metal flaps in the form of griddles about two feet long and eight or ten inches high. They lay flat on the wings during ordinary flying." and "If you ever heard a dive bombing by our A-36 Invader planes you'd never forget it. Even in normal flight that plane made a sort of screaming noise; when this was multiplied manifold by the velocity of the dive the wail could be heard for miles From the ground it sounded as though they were coming directly down on us. It was a horrifying thing. "The German Stuka could never touch the A-36 for sheer frightfulness of sound. Also, the Stuka always dived at an angle. But those Invaders came literally straight down. If a man looked up and saw one above him, he couldn't tell where it was headed. It could strike anywhere within a mile on any side of him. That's the reason it spread its terror so wide." --Bill Thompson |
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
"William R Thompson" skrev i en meddelelse ink.net... "Scubabix" wrote: This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? Design and development After the RAF saw the Mustang's less than spectacular performance, with the Allison engine, they decided not to order any P-51As, which they called the "Mustang Mk1." As the USAAC considered the use of the P-51A, they realized that its low-altitude performance, ruggedness and speed were more than sufficient in a ground attack/support role. They changed the designation and gave the P-51A a new one, the A-36 Apache. The name "Apache" was seldom used and the A-36s used by the USAAF in Italy were usually referred to as "Mustangs." There were several reasons for the P-51 to be modified as a dive-bomber. The Americans were impressed by the German Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber and wanted a dive-bomber of their own. The other reason is that USAAF still considered the Mustang as an ineffective high-altitude escort fighter because of poor performance above 20,000 feet and that no credits could be obtained for it. The Mustang was quickly modified with dive brakes and bomb racks and pressed into service. Operational service Unofficially named "Invaders," A-36As were first assigned to the 27th and 86th Bombardment Groups (Dive), later redesignated as Fighter-Bomber Groups. In June 1943, the plane went into action from North Africa. During the Italian campaign, A-36A pilots flew bomber escort and strafing missions as well as ground support bombing attacks and even had air-to-air kills over Luftwaffe fighters. A-36As also served with the 311th Fighter Bomber Group in India. In 1944, AAF A-36As were replaced by P-51s and P-47s when experience showed that these high-altitude fighters, equipped with bomb racks, were more suitable for low-level missions than the A-36As. Nevertheless, the A-36 was used with great success as a dive-bomber, acquiring a reputation for precision, sturdiness and silence. The A-36 continued in serrvice in small numbers throughout the remaining year of the war. |
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
"William R Thompson" skrev i en meddelelse ink.net... "Scubabix" wrote: This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? Design and development After the RAF saw the Mustang's less than spectacular performance, with the Allison engine, they decided not to order any P-51As, which they called the "Mustang Mk1." As the USAAC considered the use of the P-51A, they realized that its low-altitude performance, ruggedness and speed were more than sufficient in a ground attack/support role. They changed the designation and gave the P-51A a new one, the A-36 Apache. The name "Apache" was seldom used and the A-36s used by the USAAF in Italy were usually referred to as "Mustangs." There were several reasons for the P-51 to be modified as a dive-bomber. The Americans were impressed by the German Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber and wanted a dive-bomber of their own. The other reason is that USAAF still considered the Mustang as an ineffective high-altitude escort fighter because of poor performance above 20,000 feet and that no credits could be obtained for it. The Mustang was quickly modified with dive brakes and bomb racks and pressed into service. Operational service Unofficially named "Invaders," A-36As were first assigned to the 27th and 86th Bombardment Groups (Dive), later redesignated as Fighter-Bomber Groups. In June 1943, the plane went into action from North Africa. During the Italian campaign, A-36A pilots flew bomber escort and strafing missions as well as ground support bombing attacks and even had air-to-air kills over Luftwaffe fighters. A-36As also served with the 311th Fighter Bomber Group in India. In 1944, AAF A-36As were replaced by P-51s and P-47s when experience showed that these high-altitude fighters, equipped with bomb racks, were more suitable for low-level missions than the A-36As. Nevertheless, the A-36 was used with great success as a dive-bomber, acquiring a reputation for precision, sturdiness and silence. The A-36 continued in serrvice in small numbers throughout the remaining year of the war. |
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
Thanks for the clarification. I knew if I asked here, I'd get an answer.
Happy New Years to all. Rob "Blume, Alf" AlfBlume(a)hotmaildotcom wrote in message ... "William R Thompson" skrev i en meddelelse ink.net... "Scubabix" wrote: This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? Design and development After the RAF saw the Mustang's less than spectacular performance, with the Allison engine, they decided not to order any P-51As, which they called the "Mustang Mk1." As the USAAC considered the use of the P-51A, they realized that its low-altitude performance, ruggedness and speed were more than sufficient in a ground attack/support role. They changed the designation and gave the P-51A a new one, the A-36 Apache. The name "Apache" was seldom used and the A-36s used by the USAAF in Italy were usually referred to as "Mustangs." There were several reasons for the P-51 to be modified as a dive-bomber. The Americans were impressed by the German Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber and wanted a dive-bomber of their own. The other reason is that USAAF still considered the Mustang as an ineffective high-altitude escort fighter because of poor performance above 20,000 feet and that no credits could be obtained for it. The Mustang was quickly modified with dive brakes and bomb racks and pressed into service. Operational service Unofficially named "Invaders," A-36As were first assigned to the 27th and 86th Bombardment Groups (Dive), later redesignated as Fighter-Bomber Groups. In June 1943, the plane went into action from North Africa. During the Italian campaign, A-36A pilots flew bomber escort and strafing missions as well as ground support bombing attacks and even had air-to-air kills over Luftwaffe fighters. A-36As also served with the 311th Fighter Bomber Group in India. In 1944, AAF A-36As were replaced by P-51s and P-47s when experience showed that these high-altitude fighters, equipped with bomb racks, were more suitable for low-level missions than the A-36As. Nevertheless, the A-36 was used with great success as a dive-bomber, acquiring a reputation for precision, sturdiness and silence. The A-36 continued in serrvice in small numbers throughout the remaining year of the war. |
#9
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
Thanks for the clarification. I knew if I asked here, I'd get an answer.
Happy New Years to all. Rob "Blume, Alf" AlfBlume(a)hotmaildotcom wrote in message ... "William R Thompson" skrev i en meddelelse ink.net... "Scubabix" wrote: This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? Design and development After the RAF saw the Mustang's less than spectacular performance, with the Allison engine, they decided not to order any P-51As, which they called the "Mustang Mk1." As the USAAC considered the use of the P-51A, they realized that its low-altitude performance, ruggedness and speed were more than sufficient in a ground attack/support role. They changed the designation and gave the P-51A a new one, the A-36 Apache. The name "Apache" was seldom used and the A-36s used by the USAAF in Italy were usually referred to as "Mustangs." There were several reasons for the P-51 to be modified as a dive-bomber. The Americans were impressed by the German Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber and wanted a dive-bomber of their own. The other reason is that USAAF still considered the Mustang as an ineffective high-altitude escort fighter because of poor performance above 20,000 feet and that no credits could be obtained for it. The Mustang was quickly modified with dive brakes and bomb racks and pressed into service. Operational service Unofficially named "Invaders," A-36As were first assigned to the 27th and 86th Bombardment Groups (Dive), later redesignated as Fighter-Bomber Groups. In June 1943, the plane went into action from North Africa. During the Italian campaign, A-36A pilots flew bomber escort and strafing missions as well as ground support bombing attacks and even had air-to-air kills over Luftwaffe fighters. A-36As also served with the 311th Fighter Bomber Group in India. In 1944, AAF A-36As were replaced by P-51s and P-47s when experience showed that these high-altitude fighters, equipped with bomb racks, were more suitable for low-level missions than the A-36As. Nevertheless, the A-36 was used with great success as a dive-bomber, acquiring a reputation for precision, sturdiness and silence. The A-36 continued in serrvice in small numbers throughout the remaining year of the war. |
#10
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Mustangs of Today - A36Apache.jpg (1/1)
I remember reading somewhere that how the a/c was bought by the Air
Corps had partly to do with Congress. They had allocated only so much for fighter a/c and when the Mustang becae available it had all ben spent, but there was still money left for attack and army cooperation a/c so it was bought under that umbrella and modified appropriately. P. On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 08:00:44 -0500, "Scubabix" wrote: This is probably a stupid question, what's the difference between an A-36 and a P-51A? |
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