P-51A/F-6B Mustang Details

Among the many gems at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California is one of the very few Allison-engined Mustangs still flying. Even more interesting to me was the fact that this plane is not just a P-51A, but a rare F-6B tactical reconaissance version of North American's immortal fighter. Delivered to the USAAF as a P-51A-10NA on April 26, 1943, this airframe, s/n 43-6274, was stricken from service in August 1945, sold to a private owner, and flew in the 1948 Cleveland Air Races. After passing through a number of hands, the Mustang was obtained by the museum's owner in 1978. The aircraft is painted in ETO 107th Tactical Reconaissance Squadron/67th Tactical Reconaissance Group markings, but I am not sure whether this aircraft is a combat veteran. Of note in the view above is the partially lowered position of the wing flaps.

This shot through the canopy gives some indication of the quality of this aircraft's restoration. The curved cockpit floor indicative of early Mustangs can be seen below the rudder pedals, while the various placards and colours used in the cockpit. Of note is the gunsight present at the top centre of the instrument panel, a detail all too often missing in flying restorations.

Looking at the right side of the cockpit, one can see details of the canopy structure and some more interior details, including the auxiliary ring and bead sight hanging down from the windscreen and one of the interior lights on the left windscreen brace. The red handle in the centre, above the light, is for the canopy release.

This is what makes this Mustang an F-6B: the oblique F.24 aerial camera mounted behind the pilot's seat. This photo shows some details of the camera itself, as well as the mount. The structure of the rollover protection behind the pilot's seat is also evident, as is the wiring from the radio to the antenna mast.

Another view of the camera installation. Most recon Mustangs had cutouts in the quarterpanel windows to eliminate any optical distortion from the plexiglas, but this aircraft has solid plexi panels over the camera lens.

Looking at the right side of the camera installation we can see the film magazine for the camera, as well as more details of the plumbing and wiring behind the seat. The camera displaces the radio, which was normally fitted in a rack immediately behind the pilot. The radio moved deeper into the fuselage on F-6s.

The wing of the P-51A and P-51B/C were essentially the same, with an armament of two .50 calibre machine guns in each wing. This phot shows the slightly staggered position of the guns, with the outboard gun slightly below the wing centreline and deeper in the wing. Unlike some fighters converted into reconaissance aircraft, F-6s retained full armament, and a number of recon Mustang pilots became aces. Note the white recognition bands on the wing and details of the landing gear strut and door mounting.

A nice clear shot of the port landing gear strut, showing the torque link, some of the brake lines, and the interior of the gear door.

This photo of the main gear well shows the many hydraulic and electrical lines running through the well, which add quite a bit of colour. On the inside of the inboard wheel door can be seen an unpainted plate that rests against the main gear strut when the landing gear is retracted.

Looking back past the wheel well we can see the intake for the radiator, with the radiator itself barely visible. Unlike the P-51, which had a hinged intake for the radiator, the A-36 and P-51A had this simple fixed design. More details of the inboard gear door and rear of the wheel well can also be seen here.

Behind the radiator is a hinged exhaust ramp for the hot air that has passed through the radiator. The actuator for the ramp can be seen in the centre.

Our final photo is of the bomb shackle under the starboard wing. The shackle is unpainted and the main body is cast as a single piece. The shackles are able to carry a bomb of up to 500 lbs. weight or external fuel tanks. Barely visible behind and between the rear shackels is the shell and link ejector hole for the .50 calibre machine guns in the wing.

I realize that these photos do not do justice to this magnificently restored aircraft, but I still hope that they are of some use to anybody building a model of a P-51A or any early reconaissance variant of the Mustang.