Well, not exactly. The problem during that period was not the
absence of the Mustang, but the failure to aggressively pursue
the use of P-47s and P-38s as long-range escort fighters. The
development of suitable drop tanks was being badly neglected,
and the available fighters were not being effectively used.

Not so at all. (Surely you're not saying that drop tanks weren't being
used? Strewth, the P-40D of late 1941 had drop tanks!)

It was generally believed that it was impossible to give an existing
fighter the stretch to reach Berlin from Germany, and that an entirely
new fighter was needed. The oversized fuse tank in the Mustang was a
last resort, which happened to do the job (with drop-tanks to boot, of
course). As I recall the memoirs, the Mustang had a c of g so far aft
on the early part of a mission that the trim wouldn't compensate, but
the pilot had to use forward stick.

I doubt the 47 could ever have been adapted in this fashion, because
of its higher weight. And I'm not sure that the 38 was all that
effective defending bombers against 109s/190s on their home ground.

all the best -- Dan Ford (email: info AT danford.net)

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
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