ANA 503 Willow Green Options and Opinions:

[Stikpusher]

What purpose of dive stripes on the front leading edge wings serve?

I’m pretty sure that they are like similar markings on the canopy, to allow the pilot to get a quick reference on his dive angle for weapons delivery.

[speedgraflex]

What purpose of dive stripes on the front leading edge wings serve?

I’m pretty sure that they are like similar markings on the canopy, to allow the pilot to get a quick reference on his dive angle for weapons delivery.

Thanks, Carlos.

[speedgraflex]

Here is a potential subject for the ICM 1:48 P-51D I purchased earlier today:



Well—here goes a kit to make a kit; ICM first (deciding about upgrades is interesting) as a test bed prototype make mistakes project then build the Airfix beast.

MORE GREEN ie GREENBACKS

[KSaarni]

Green is Cool !

- Kari

[speedgraflex]

[speedgraflex]

At :42—are Mustangs flying with 1 drop tank or two? Maybe... fuel tanks are used one by one and jettisoned when empty?

[KSaarni]

Oh yeah!



( could also have some chips please)

- Kari

[Stikpusher]

At :42—are Mustangs flying with 1 drop tank or two? Maybe... fuel tanks are used one by one and jettisoned when empty?

They should be flying with one store on each pylon if stores are carried. More than likely the solo tank is the result of a malfunction. I don’t know how often that happened, but it was not uncommon. The aircraft becomes asymmetrical due to drag and weight distribution and cannot achieve optimum performance in combat. Usually that aircraft will be tasked to return, or at least disengage and their wingman will fly cover for them.
On the Yamamoto shoot down mission, one aircraft in the designated “killer” flight (4 P-38’s) tasked with shooting down the Betty’s suffered such a malfunction. He and his wingman disengaged, leaving only one pair of P-38’s to go after the two Betty’s. The Betty’s were shot down by those two (a whole different story and debate there), while the remaining P-38s engaged the Zero escort. Long story short, all P-38s except one returned to Guadalcanal except one... the one whose tanks hung up.

If any story would make a great thriller war movie, it would be that mission.

Thread hijack over...

[speedgraflex]

Oh yeah!



( could also have some chips please)

- Kari

Salt n’ vinegar over here! What’s your favorite flavor?

[speedgraflex]

At :42—are Mustangs flying with 1 drop tank or two? Maybe... fuel tanks are used one by one and jettisoned when empty?

They should be flying with one store on each pylon if stores are carried. More than likely the solo tank is the result of a malfunction. I don’t know how often that happened, but it was not uncommon. The aircraft becomes asymmetrical due to drag and weight distribution and cannot achieve optimum performance in combat. Usually that aircraft will be tasked to return, or at least disengage and their wingman will fly cover for them.
On the Yamamoto shoot down mission, one aircraft in the designated “killer” flight (4 P-38’s) tasked with shooting down the Betty’s suffered such a malfunction. He and his wingman disengaged, leaving only one pair of P-38’s to go after the two Betty’s. The Betty’s were shot down by those two (a whole different story and debate there), while the remaining P-38s engaged the Zero escort. Long story short, all P-38s except one returned to Guadalcanal except one... the one whose tanks hung up.

If any story would make a great thriller war movie, it would be that mission.

Thread hijack over...

That is no hijack, Carlos! That is an incredible story! Thank you!