Oh O.K. I wasn't sure I just remember my grandpa telling me he was in the 8th Air force then after the war (I think when they broke away) they merged with the 20th Air force. He told me as a mechanic and test pilot that right before the merge he worked on the Enola gay. He said they put 14 radio's and a dozen radar sets in it and it never worked correctly again. Evey Time I talk ww2 he tells that story with a smile, like he's standing right next to it again.
I remember the AD's were the Navy AD-1 Skyraiders... which were replaced by the A-6 Intruder... I have worked on Intruders back in the day and when I was younger I had the chance to work on a Mustang that flew out of our local airfield from time to time... Love the sound of the rolls Royce Merlin engine!! It was very distinctive when it flew over... Using this type of plane as a ground attack plane was problematic as the radiator was under the plane and vulnerable to ground fire
F6F's Hellcat had highest kill record in the Pacific. The F4U Corsair would be my choice, just because it's has an air cooled engine, and only slightly slower that a P51. The Mustangs radiator was it's weak point.
@71tankerman IRRC in 1950 F-47D/M's were all delegated to ANG units east of the Mississippi River. F-51Ds just happened to be where the action was. You're right though. Water-cooled engine and ground-attack = FAIL, at least when there's lots of flak around.
Great airplane carried lots of ordanance and lingered along time. Bet there is still use for them today for close air support. Closest thing today is A10 Warthog another great plane
@N101RG My dad used to work on those as a civilian aircraft mechanic. He used to call them "ADs", their old USN designation. In Korea, ADs and AU-1 corsairs were blue. When Chinese prisoners were asked what they were most afraid of, they'd often answer "blue planes." ADs could ship a lot of napalm, and could ruin a human wave attack.
The prop planes used in Vietnam for ground attack were Skyraiders which remind me of the P-47 Thunderbolts (Jugs) of WW2. I am surprised Mustangs stayed in the Air Force inventory so long as 1957, what a waste. Although I'm sure they were used in Air National Guard inventories for training purposes only.
The Army, interestingly, retained Mustangs for much longer. The last supported the AH-56A Cheyenne program in the early 70's and is in the Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker. "...(A) *ten*-year old aircraft performed yeoman service...". Imagine that! How astonishing! I'd bet the *average* USAF airframe has more than ten years on it, now.
No, but they were used extensively in Korea for ground attack duties, where they suffered heavy losses largely due to Mustang's vulnerable intercooler radiator design. Around the time of the Vietnam era, a number of F-51Ds were rebuilt by Cavalier as COIN aircraft under the Peace Condor program for export. This led to a more heavily modified turboprop-engine version later unsuccessfully marketed to the Air Force as the Piper PA-48 "Enforcer".
Oh O.K. I wasn't sure I just remember my grandpa telling me he was in the 8th Air force then after the war (I think when they broke away) they merged with the 20th Air force. He told me as a mechanic and test pilot that right before the merge he worked on the Enola gay. He said they put 14 radio's and a dozen radar sets in it and it never worked correctly again. Evey Time I talk ww2 he tells that story with a smile, like he's standing right next to it again.
bad74maverick1 4 months ago
Comment removed
bad74maverick1 4 months ago
El salvador was the last county to fight a war with this airplane in 1969 againts Honduras.
GODsoccersk8football 8 months ago
actually it's the USAAF
140Robbie 1 year ago
@140Robbie the Army Air Force was ended in 1945 wasn't it?
bad74maverick1 6 months ago
@bad74maverick1 The USAF was created in 1947
Gromit801 4 months ago
I remember the AD's were the Navy AD-1 Skyraiders... which were replaced by the A-6 Intruder... I have worked on Intruders back in the day and when I was younger I had the chance to work on a Mustang that flew out of our local airfield from time to time... Love the sound of the rolls Royce Merlin engine!! It was very distinctive when it flew over... Using this type of plane as a ground attack plane was problematic as the radiator was under the plane and vulnerable to ground fire
tboltaq2 1 year ago
I remember the day it was retired...a GREAT Plane...
Greenhornet270 1 year ago
F6F's Hellcat had highest kill record in the Pacific. The F4U Corsair would be my choice, just because it's has an air cooled engine, and only slightly slower that a P51. The Mustangs radiator was it's weak point.
Auggie56 2 years ago
@Auggie56 They should have used the P-47 for the ground attack mission in Korea-- more survivable to ground fire and it packed a bigger punch.
71tankerman 1 year ago
@71tankerman IRRC in 1950 F-47D/M's were all delegated to ANG units east of the Mississippi River. F-51Ds just happened to be where the action was. You're right though. Water-cooled engine and ground-attack = FAIL, at least when there's lots of flak around.
fantom58 1 year ago
wow!
Hellamar 3 years ago
I don't think so ... I was at
k-55 and at k-18
n1014f 3 years ago
Jim, was that you with the binocs on the tower in Korea?
Fait2 3 years ago
Used the A1E Skyraider in Nam. Nickname Sandy
Great airplane carried lots of ordanance and lingered along time. Bet there is still use for them today for close air support. Closest thing today is A10 Warthog another great plane
N101RG 3 years ago
@N101RG My dad used to work on those as a civilian aircraft mechanic. He used to call them "ADs", their old USN designation. In Korea, ADs and AU-1 corsairs were blue. When Chinese prisoners were asked what they were most afraid of, they'd often answer "blue planes." ADs could ship a lot of napalm, and could ruin a human wave attack.
fantom58 1 year ago
us brits made the mustang what it was by putting the merlin in it.
thats the way britain and america should work together, americas money and britains brain power
walters1992 3 years ago
Haha, something like that. Thats why I date a brit. She's got the $ though. ;-)
DieHard3188 3 years ago
Its the day the Air Force died!
maxsmodels 3 years ago 2
The prop planes used in Vietnam for ground attack were Skyraiders which remind me of the P-47 Thunderbolts (Jugs) of WW2. I am surprised Mustangs stayed in the Air Force inventory so long as 1957, what a waste. Although I'm sure they were used in Air National Guard inventories for training purposes only.
verbusen 3 years ago
The Army, interestingly, retained Mustangs for much longer. The last supported the AH-56A Cheyenne program in the early 70's and is in the Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker. "...(A) *ten*-year old aircraft performed yeoman service...". Imagine that! How astonishing! I'd bet the *average* USAF airframe has more than ten years on it, now.
TsurugiJiri 4 years ago
where they used in vietnam? i think
revengeofcleveland 3 years ago
No, but they were used extensively in Korea for ground attack duties, where they suffered heavy losses largely due to Mustang's vulnerable intercooler radiator design. Around the time of the Vietnam era, a number of F-51Ds were rebuilt by Cavalier as COIN aircraft under the Peace Condor program for export. This led to a more heavily modified turboprop-engine version later unsuccessfully marketed to the Air Force as the Piper PA-48 "Enforcer".
TsurugiJiri 3 years ago
Great video thanks
ArgentineDude 4 years ago