Where can I find documented information on the air battles between these planes and the faster, more agile Mig-15? The only things I can come up are the battles between the Migs and F-86 Sabre. I know that the P-51 had definitely lost its edge as an effective fighter, but I really would like to hear the stories from the guys that flew them, and were brave enough to take on the Migs in an aircraft that they knew was horribly mismatched. If you know of any good books to reference, that definitely would really be a very big help
Ringo
May 22, 2004, 7:40pm
2
From Air Force Aircraft of the Korean War :
F-51 Mustang . North American. The single-seat Mustang was first flown in 1940 and considered by many to have been the premier piston-engine fighter of World War II, when it was known as the P-51. It was especially valuable in Korea because it could operate from rough South Korean airfields. The Mustang was used primarily for close support of ground forces, until the aircraft type was withdrawn from combat in 1953. Powered by a 1,695-hp, liquid-cooled, Packard-built Rolls Royce Merlin power plant, the F-51 proved itself to be a capable ground attack and, as the F-6/RF-51D, reconnaissance aircraft.
And, if you’re thinking of Mustangs, from the same source:
F-82 Twin Mustang . North American. The Japan-based F-82s were among the first USAF aircraft to operate over Korea. The first three North Korean airplanes destroyed by US forces were shot down by F-82s on June 27, 1950. Called the Twin Mustang, the F-82 appeared to be two halves of an F-51 joined together with a wing center section and horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft first flew in 1945. It was intended for use as an ultra-long-range escort fighter and a night fighter. The F-82s were powered by two 1,600-hp Allison V-1710 engines. Used initially for counterair and ground attack work, their importance as night fighters caused them to be withdrawn for defense purposes until a shortage of spare parts made it necessary to retire them from combat.
Another souurce, The North American P-51 Mustang , offers this comment:
Unfortunately, the new reality was that piston engine fighters were no longer the arbiters of air superiority; the new jet fighters were to perform that role in future conflicts. Piston engine fighters, such as the Navy’s Corsair and the Air Force’s Mustang, were now relegated to the close support ground attack role, for which the P-51 was not really the best choice. The durable P-47’s and P-38’s, both of which could lift more ordinance and had more firepower than the P-51, got the axe while the Mustang served on.
Regardless, the Mustang performed valuable ground support work in the Korean War. And occasionally its pilots found enemy Yak-9’s to engage, in a reprise of its WW II air superiority role.
Some comments of a pilot from a squadron that flew F-51s .
Although our propeller-driven F-51 Mustangs were no match for the fast jets in air-to-air battles, we knew from our simulated ‘dogfights’ between our F-80 jets and the Mustangs, that the '51 could survive a jet confrontation …but only if strict, disciplined defensive tactics were applied, with very precise timing of each defensive maneuver.
For example: the great speed advantage of the jets could be somewhat offset by the much tighter turning radius of the Mustang. So, when attacked by jets, the '51 pilot would have to keep a close eye on the attacking enemy fighter and make an abrupt, tight turn into the attacker at just the precise moment before the jet came into firing range. In that way the Mustang would have equal opportunity to fire at the jet in a head-on pass… trading gun for gun and for the moment, eliminating the enemy’s advantage of speed.
Then, when the jet sped past, swinging wide because of his excess momentum, the '51 pilot would have to immediately dive into a very, very tight descending spiral …racing to get down close to the ground as quickly as possible. If the jet set up for another attack before the Mustang could get down to the deck, amongst the mountains, it might be necessary to synchronize yet more head-on passes to keep the jet from making clean, deadly stern attacks.
Finally, when the Mustang was able to get down into the mountain valleys, he could try to “scrape off” the high-speed, wider-turning jet in the narrow canyons … still pulling up to meet each attack head-on, trading gun for gun, until ultimately the jet must run low on fuel and return to base, leaving the '51 pilot with plenty of remaining fuel to high-tail it for home …badly shaken, but still safe and still flying!
This site: www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/korea/UnitTotals1.pdf is titled USAF Korean War Victories by Unit and might offer some insight as to how the F-51s fared, but I haven’t got Acrobat installed right now, so I couldn’t look at it.
Here’s some info on the P-51 (redesignated F-51 in 1948), and it’s predecessor, the A-36A Apache dive bomber.
Here’s some info and a photo of the F-82.
Also, try the June 2000 issue of Flight Journal magazine for an article titled “Korea: The First Twelve Months” that compares the F-51 to the Mig-15.
Nothing to contribute to the question. I just had to say I once got to fly in a P-51 Mustang with WW II pilot and stunt flyer Bob Hoover. Oh Man!
Carry on!
Ringo
May 22, 2004, 8:46pm
4
Here’s an Amazon link for a book called Mustangs over Korea: The North American F-51 at War 1950-1953 by David R. McLaren.
Thanks a million guys.
Correction: That :wally symbol was supposed to be a big
Thanks again everyone
:wally