P 51D questions for WWII

Just some questions for historical correctness.

1. Will we see outdoor mirror/s on the P-51D instead of the modern indoor mirror?

2. Which exactly block model is the P-51D ingame? From what I can see it should be something from block 25 onwards.

3. At which block and when were the double antenna (at the fuselage) and the rear warning system (antenna at the vertical rudder?) introduced?

2. Which exactly block model is the P-51D ingame? From what I can see it should be something from block 25 onwards.

In the cockpit, there are a couple of tags displaying the serial number 44-84847, which would make this particular Mustang part of Block 25-NT from NAA's Grand Prairie, Texas plant. Contrary to common belief, not all Mustangs produced there were P-51Ks with the Aeroproducts propeller. I'll have to do some further digging in the literature to answer your question on the antennas. I'm not privy to the answer to your first question.

Some pictures and information on this aircraft

http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/p51survivors/pages/44-84847.shtml

OK, I've searched through the parts catalog of the P-51 from March 1945.

The rear warning system AN/APS-13 was introduced by the P-51D at the parts code:

FF-H; MB-Q

P-51D-20-NA (FF 44-72127 thru 72226) and onwards at the NA-plant,

P-51K-10-NT (MB 44-12153 thru 12352) and

P-51D-25,30,35-NT (Q 44-84390 thru 84989; 45-11343 thru 12742)

The double antenna on the fuselage I haven't found in the parts catalog, so it must be introduced to a later date.

I think that you will find that any combat critical equipment that entered the production lines probably reached units in the field (or at least the forward depots) in kit form either just before or just after the production upgrades. This was certainly the case for the fin fillets on the D/K models and with the early issue of the paddleblade props and water injection kits for the P-47s in the Eighth AF (and as usual, the 56th FG got them first).

As for the double antennas, the only place they seem to have been commonly seen was with the ultra long range escort groups out of Iwo Jima and the Western Pacific theater.

I don't think I've seen any pictures of them on Mustangs operating in the ETO or Med.

cheers

hosreback

Got to agree. Even though the 51 in DCS is the one that will ( so I understand) appear in DCS1944, I hope the visual model can be slightly tweaked so we have the single antenna version and external mirrors :)

Cheers, MP

Might be interested in this... Can't find much on dates of use besides '45.

Interesting is the date (May 1945) on the pages for the AN/ARA-8.

see: http://de.scribd.com/doc/39145899/WWII-Radar-Comm-Equipment

A little bit late for europe.